Drummer
Billy Cobham, guitarist
Bill Bickford, and bassist
Wolfgang Schmid form a creative fusion trio on Paradox. The result is a powerhouse addition to
Cobham's discography. The music ranges from the roiling heavy metal sludge of
Bickford's "Four More Years," to the full-on funk of
Schmid's "Fonkey Donkey," to
Cobham's calmly lyrical "Walking in Five."
Schmid is the principal writer, followed by
Bickford, then
Cobham. The best way to set the scene is with Paradox's version of "Quadrant 4." The original was the defining track on
Cobham's 1973 debut release,
Spectrum. Coming on the heels of
Cobham's work with
John McLaughlin's original
Mahavishnu Orchestra,
Spectrum is one of the essential documents of fusion's classic era. The original "Quadrant 4" was a showcase for the late
Tommy Bolin -- a bona fide rock star of
James Gang fame. The melding of
Bolin's speed-freak boogie with
Cobham's pummeling whirlwind got the attention of jazz and rock fans alike, achieving almost "hit single" status in both camps. For their version almost a quarter-century later,
Cobham and company notch the pace back a bit, getting more heft and torque without losing any of the original's guitar god flash (
Schmid almost steals the show with his own axe-slinging).
While Paradox is a tripartite accomplishment, it is also a personal return to form for
Cobham, who, after the promise of his early solo career, became involved in many forgettable projects (does anybody remember
Bobby & the Midnites?). Paradox doesn't match the howling, apocalyptic thunder of
the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but it is the equal of
Cobham's own triumphant first release. ~ Jim Todd