Billy Cobham Live in Leverkusen DVD Preview

Here's a little preview of the Live in Leverkusen DVD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N70O5qBOwmo&feature=related

Gee. Will I get hung if I say it's a bit on the ... dry side? I watched some other vids from the concert. Just seems to lack fire and energy. Of course, I guess it is true ensemble playing to a mellower degree. Everything sounds really clear, though. Nice separation on everybody.

I notice the same thing on Jean Luc Ponty's newer live offerings. Much more mellow. Although RTF seems to keep burning things up. Can't seem to hold Chick down even at 70.

First off, welcome to the board !

And no , you won't get hung for expressing your opinion here . However, you will get disagreed with by me about this version of the billy Cobham Band. I think this is the best band Boomer has had in a while, and I told him that when I saw them play at the Blue Note a while back.

I've also seen RTF a number of times this past year, and while they are still great, I think Boomer's band can more than hold their own with them, with the exception of Stanley Clarke. Fifi is excellent, but Stanley is ridiculous.

I've had the TV broadcast of this concert from when it came out - the upcoming DVD appears to have two more cuts than the broadcast I have. But I love it. Hey to each his own.



Peace, TED

Well, I have to admit I have not followed Billy's career and bands since the '70s early '80s. I'm used to all the pyrotechnics in Billy's playing and surrounding music, in general. That seemed absent on the clips I saw. I love steel drums. That was cool. I really miss keyboards in a lot of today's music, so two of them was nice to hear.

I decided to watch this cut again. Didn't watch it through the first time. Sounded and looked much better second time around BUT, they ran the credits during Billy's final flurry??? Are you kidding me? Matter of fact, while Billy is doing his thing the cameras are on everybody BUT Billy. Bummer. Assuming Billy gets more camera time at other points in the presentation I can let that slip, I guess, but running the credits during the final crescendo of a concert? I hate that. It's like a TV program. WAS this a taped television presentation?

Gorgeous drums, though, (curly maple?). One of the prettier sets I've seen Billy use.

"Red Baron." Cool. "Two for Juan." Never heard that tune before. Bravo!

How did these clips end up on youtube if the DVD has not been released yet? Or, are we waiting for the USA release?

What kind of longboards is Billy using? Does he use Yamaha pedals?

Yes, this is from a taped TV broadcast, hence the credits. The reason it's been on youtube is that it was already broadcast in Europe a while back when it was taped. I got my copy of it from a friend in Europe at that time. But from what I can gather, the upcoming DVD release contains two more songs not used on the TV broadcast which was an hour long.

I'm actually not sure what kind of pedals Boomer is using at the moment.




Peace, TED