Review of the Billy Cobham CD Total Eclipse

I can describe the latest release from Jazz sensation Billy Cobham for you with just one word… Outstanding!

This CD literally grabs your attention right out of the gate with Solarization: Solarization / Second Phase / Crescent Sun / Voyage / Solarization-Recapitulation and won’t let go until the very last note of the very last song Last Frontier, which is another great track by the way.

Total Eclipse is a nicely varied, mix of 8 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly gifted artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

Overall Total Eclipse is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Jazz CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire album is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 3 - Total Eclipse, track 6 - The Moon Ain’t Made Of Green Cheese, and track 8 - Last Frontier.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Solarization: Solarization / Second Phase / Crescent Sun / Voyage / Solarization-Recapitulation. This is a great track!

Total Eclipse Release Notes:

Billy Cobham originally released Total Eclipse on April 25, 2000 on the Wounded Bird Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Solarization: Solarization / Second Phase / Crescent Sun / Voyage / Solarization-Recapitulation 2. Lunarputians 3. Total Eclipse 4. Bandits 5. Moon Germs 6. Moon Ain't Made Of Green Cheese, The 7. Sea Of Tranquillity 8. Last Frontier

Personnel: Billy Cobham (piano, drums, tympani); Michael Brecker (soprano & tenor saxophones, flute); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Glenn Ferris (tenor & bass trombones); Sue Evans (marimba); Milcho Leviev (keyboards); John Abercrombie, Cornell Dupree (guitar); Alex Blake (electric bass); David Earle Johnson (congas).

Recorded at Atlantic & Electric Lady Studios, New York, New York.

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