COBHAM: The Music and Drumming of Billy Cobham

Hudson Music is honored to publishCOBHAM: The Music and Drumming of Billy Cobham, the authorized musical biography celebrating the life and career of the jazz, fusion, and drumming icon. This beautifully-crafted, 168-page volume blends biography, musical notation, discography, and rare photographs in a stunning full-color coffee-table format.

When Billy Cobham burst onto the global stage in 1971 with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, he had already performed with Miles Davis and numerous other legends. His groundbreaking work with Mahavishnu set new standards for drumming, redefining what was possible on the instrument. Just two years later, his debut solo album,Spectrum(1973), topped the charts, produced three future jazz standards, and secured his legacy as one of the greatest drummers in history. Over a career spanning seven decades, Cobham has remained a towering figure—studied, revered, and admired by generations of musicians.

COBHAMoffers an in-depth exploration and analysis of his life and artistry, created with Cobham’s direct involvement and based on extensive interviews. It traces his early years, documents the key stages of his career from 1968 to the present, and delves into his most significant recordings and projects. Cobham shares candid insights on topics including the music industry, composition, bandleading, recording, and music education.

The book also showcases Cobham’s innovations on the drum set—such as left-hand-lead/ambidextrous playing, double bass drum technique, the large contemporary kit, and unique instruments like the gong drum—paired with an inventive, ever-evolving approach that continues to inspire drummers worldwide. Note-for-note transcriptions span his work with Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, CTI Records, and solo albums likeSpectrum,Crosswinds,Total Eclipse,Warning, andPower Play.

Exclusive interviews with John McLaughlin, Ron Carter, Randy Brecker, Wayne Cobham, and Ken Hoshino, alongside testimonials from contemporary drumming greats Will Calhoun, Dennis Chambers, Gary Husband, Simon Phillips, John Riley, Steve Smith, and Narada Michael Walden, further illuminate his influence. The book is rounded out with a complete discography and a gallery of vintage industry ads.

Authored by Joe Bergamini—known for best-selling biographies of Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, and Steve Gadd—COBHAMis essential reading for drummers, jazz and fusion fans, and anyone interested in the history of modern music. While packed with detailed transcriptions, it can be enjoyed equally by readers who simply appreciate compelling biography and rich visual storytelling.

Drum transcriptions included in the book:

CTI RECORDS:
“In a Mist” - Freddie Hubbard - Sky Dive
“Make Me Rainbows” - Stanley Turrentine - The Sugar Man
“White Rabbit” - George Benson - White Rabbit
“Skyscrapers” - Deodato - Deodato 2

MILES DAVIS:
“Right Off” - Jack Johnson

MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA:
“Vital Transformation” - The Inner Mounting Flame
“Dance of Maya” - The Inner Mounting Flame
“You Know You Know” - The Inner Mounting Flame
“Birds of Fire” - Birds of Fire
“Celestial Terrestrial Commuters” - Birds of Fire
“One Word” - Birds of Fire

BILLY COBHAM:
“Quadrant 4” - Spectrum “Stratus” – Spectrum “Spectrum" – Spectrum “Red Baron” – Spectrum “Spanish Moss” - Crosswinds “Heather” - Crosswinds “Solarization” - Total Eclipse “Lunarputians” - Total Eclipse “Panhandler” A Funky Thide of Sings “Mozaik” - Warning “The Conflict” - Power Play “Fragolino” - Compass Point OTHER PROJECTS: “Hip Pockets,” “Juicy” - Billy Cobham - George Duke Band: Live on Tour in Europe “Walkin’” – Hurricane (video) – Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham

COBHAM PROMO QUOTES

“Bergamini has given the drum world something it needed for so long: a beautifully written musical dissection of one of the most unique voices of all modern drumming. It’s complete with transcriptions, photos, interviews and a magnificent career timeline that lets you know when and where Cobham was when he performed his genius. No matter how thoroughly you think you know Billy‘s drumming and career, I guarantee you you’re going to learn something new! This is a must-have for any collection.” - Tommy Igoe

“Joe Bergamini knocked it out of the park with his comprehensive retrospective on the great Billy Cobham. It’s a phenomenal look at the man, the music, and the drumming of one of the most important musicians of all time. Billy was a ‘big bang that changed the landscape of music forever—and for the better. Thank you, Billy!" - Todd Sucherman

“Congratulations on the new book on one of my idols! There’s so much inspiring info, in words and transcriptions, that generations of drummers will benefit from. Thank you. The layout and editing are perfect and the interviews with Bill’s colleagues, along with the photos, really hit the mark. Reading through Bill’s book has been a great way to start the year for me. Thank you all.” - John Riley

“This book is great! I've learned some new things from it, as Bill is definitely one of my heroes. The first time I saw Billy play was with Horace Silver and it completely blew me away. When I saw him play with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, it fried my mind. To sit there and hear what was coming off that stage and me thinking this was not possible, I couldn't sleep for 48 hours afterwards. When he came out with his first LP, he took drumming to a whole other level. With each album release, it took you on a trip and pushed you on a journey wanting to learn more. Billy is a very important piece of drumming history. Bravo to one of the greatest drummers I know!” - Dennis Chambers

“Joe Bergamini has written a wonderful book on a wonderful (and often misunderstood) subject, the great Billy Cobham. And for anyone who thinks they understand Cobham's drumming, life, and career, I encourage you to take a deep dive and use this book as a guide. We get a thorough explanation of Billy's early and formative years, an examination of his (forgotten) years as a session man and sideman, and a look into the mind of Cobham as a talented composer and bandleader. Yes, there is a deep look into the legendary and awe-inspiring Mahavishnu days, over 20 jaw-dropping transcriptions, and talk about chops, technique, odd times, and inventive gear. But Billy Cobham is SO MUCH more than that. He is a multi-faceted musician, and thankfully Bergamini covers it ALL in this book. We also get interviews and insights about Billy from two musicians who know him well, bassist Ron Carter and guitarist John McLaughlin. We could not ask for a better look into the mind, music, and drumming of one of the legends of drumming, Billy Cobham. This book is a great read and is highly recommended!” - Mark Griffith/Modern Drummer magazine

“In the drum world, ‘B.C.’ should stand for ‘Before Cobham,’ because after Billy came along everything changed. Expectations of what was physically possible to play on the drum set were forever changed and the art of drumming, and drum equipment itself, would never be the same. Over the years, for whatever reason, appreciation of the true magnitude of Cobham's influence has been allowed to wane. This new book is a fitting tribute to his genius and goes a long way in reestablishing Billy Cobham's rightful preeminence as one of the most influential musicians of all time.” - Colin Schofield (drum industry veteran)