[ The Art of Three ] | +-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | | [ Kenny Barron ] [ Ron Carter ] [ Billy Cobham ] (Piano) (Bass) (Drums)
What makes this album a standout is the subversion of expectations. Instead of Cobham overpowering the acoustic piano and bass, he displays breathtaking restraint. His brushwork is crisp, his cymbal accents are coloristic, and when he does unleash a polyrhythmic barrage, it fits perfectly within the acoustic framework.
Often, high-energy drummers struggle with ballads. Cobham uses brushes here, not as a cliché, but as a textural instrument. The FLAC encoding captures the "shush" of the wire brushes dragging across the coated Remo head. On a compressed stream, this becomes noise. On a proper FLAC rip, it is sandpaper on silk. Billy Cobham - The Art of Three -2001- -EAC-FLAC-
| Aspect | Rating | |--------|--------| | | 8/10 – Clean Shanachie master, decent dynamic range. | | Rip quality (EAC-FLAC) | 9/10 – Assuming log file is present. | | Availability | Out of print on CD. Digital purchase (e.g., 7Digital, Qobuz) may be FLAC but not guaranteed EAC-secure. |
: A swinging finale that highlights the group's effortless rhythmic interplay. The Significance of the "EAC-FLAC" Archive Often, high-energy drummers struggle with ballads
For collectors, the version is particularly valued because it preserves the warm, soft sound of these live performances, allowing listeners to experience the "rhythm and sound nuances" that defined this specific era of Cobham’s career.
Jack DeJohnette’s Special Edition , Paul Motian trios, Keith Jarrett’s Standards, early Mahavishnu unplugged. On a compressed stream, this becomes noise
The album features gentle, romantic takes on these standards, showcasing a side of Cobham seldom seen during his Fusion era. Audiophile Quality: The EAC-FLAC Advantage
: The album contains excerpts from two live concerts recorded in January 2001 during a European tour, specifically in Odense, Denmark and Oslo, Norway .
. Recorded in January 2001 during a European tour with stops in Odense, Denmark Oslo, Norway