Cobham is just that in regards to jazz, and consequently to music in general.
He got his start in 1968 with Horace Silver during which time he became one
of the first percussionists, along with Max Roach and Tony Williams to utilize
the Electronic Drum Controller. He then performed with Miles Davis displaying
his ambidextrous drumming on classic recordings like Bitches Brew, Live-Evil
and Jack Johnson. Following, he joined John McLaughlin in the Mahavishnu
Orchestra where he became an influential force. In addition Cobham has
recorded and performed the world over with the A-list of jazz and rock greats
including Chick Corea, Tommy Bolin, John Scofield, Count Basie, the Brecker
brothers and fellow percussionist Tito Puente. After stints of drumming in the
service of the Grateful Dead, he toured with the all-star group Jazz Is Dead in
the late 90’s. However, Cobham’s most notable offerings to fusion jazz are his
own 35 recordings beginning with Spectrum, which was released on Atlantic
Records in 1973 and reissued on compact disc by Rhino Entertainment in
2001 and also offered as a DVD-A audio disk.
during a six-year stint with Chick Corea. Weckl was born in St. Louis and
grew up listening to soul and jazz; he received his first drum set at age eight
and developed his playing by listening to drummers like Buddy Rich, as well
as R&B grooves. He majored in jazz at the University of Bridgeport, but left
after two years to become involved in the New York jazz scene, also touring
Europe with various bands. Weckl joined a fusion group called Nitesprite,
where he attracted the attention of drummer Peter Erskine; Erskine helped
him get a gig with French Toast, a band also featuring pianist Michel Camilo
and bassist Anthony Jackson.
From French Toast, Weckl branched out into session work, playing on
numerous early-'80s sessions with the likes of Bill Connors (Return to
Forever), the Brecker Brothers, Tania Maria, Paquito D'Rivera, Eliane Elias,
and George Benson, as well as pop and soul albums for Diana Ross,
Madonna, and Robert Plant. In 1986, Chick Corea saw Weckl performing in
New York with guitarist Connors and invited the drummer to join his new
Electric Band. Weckl spent a total of seven years with Corea, performing on
numerous albums and also appearing with Corea's Akoustic Band; his skills
received considerable esteem, and he augmented his work with Corea by
continuing his session work and appearing often with the GRP All-Star Big
Band. Weckl also released a series of instructional videotapes, and in 1990,
he led his first solo date, Master Plan, for GRP. Heads Up followed in 1992,
as well as Hard-Wired in 1994.
Upon leaving Corea, Weckl's primary focus was recording and touring with
guitarist Mike Stern; he also continued his work as a sideman. In 1998, Weckl
led the R&B-oriented date Rhythm of the Soul, a return to his other boyhood
musical love, and the like-minded Synergy followed in 1999. The Dave Weckl
Band had really gelled by the time of Transition's 2000 release, but Weckl
didn't leave teaching behind either, and released another instructional
recording, The Zone, in 2001. After working extensively with a quartet for the
last few years, he debuted their efforts with 2002's improv-heavy Perpetual
Motion.
Steve Huey
Source: AllMusicGuide
was playing in nightclubs. Chambers had no former schooling in music. All his
musical training came from playing in nightclubs. At the age of 18 he went from
High School to a band called Parliament and Funkadelic. He joined the band in
1978 and played until 1985. From that point he joined Special EFX in 1985. In
1987 Chambers joined the David Sanborn Band and the John Scofield Band,
which ended 1989. Shortly afterwards he joined the Mike Stern/Bob Berg Band.
From that time he has played in other bands and with bandleaders such as: Bill
Evans, Mike Urbaniak, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Steve Kahn, The Brecker
Brothers Band and many others.
