Music: Billy Cobham and Asere

Published on Tuesday 21 October 2008 20:35

BILLY COBHAM & ASERE EDEN COURT, INVERNESS

IT WAS a gig tailor-made for the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, but the only Scottish date on an extensive UK tour brought drum hero Billy Cobham and the Cuban group Asere to the conventional theatre arena at Eden Court.

If the audience were denied the chance to dance to their compelling rhythms, they lapped up the fine musicianship instead.

Those acquainted with Cobham only through his thunderous contributions to the Mahavishnu Orchestra or his own later fusion groups will have heard a lighter and more buoyant side to his playing.

He used his impressive array of drums and cymbals as much for colour as rhythmic momentum, supporting and augmenting the group's two percussionists and the miscellaneous shakers and scrapers distributed through the seven-piece band, which also featured trumpet, acoustic guitars, electric bass and vocals.

Cobham's own Panamanian roots were evoked in several of the tunes, as were the more distant connections between Central America and Spain in compositions that fused Cuban Rumba with Flamenco.

The second set began in theatrical fashion on a darkened stage. A spot picked out Cobham alone behind his kit, playing with four sticks in the style of a vibes player.

He was eventually joined by the conga player and electric bass guitarist in a feast of rhythm section soloing before the full band returned for a vibrant second set that included a version of Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues and a sing-along finale.