BILLY COBHAM — Inner Conflicts (review)

BILLY COBHAM — Inner Conflicts album cover

Album · 1978 · Fusion

4.5/5 · 2025-05-07
FunkFreak75

This time incorporating the talents of some old favorites along with the continued promotion of some of his new collaborators (including the Escovedo family), Billy continues to remain staunchly loyal to the principles of sophistication and quality of "peak era" Jazz-Rock Fusion even if this is his most Latin-heavy production to date.

A1. "Inner Conflicts" (10:49) Instead of one of Billy's stark drum solos that he occasionally enjoys placing on his albums, we have here an experiment with drums, programmed drums, and synthesizers all woven together. I do not have a problem with this--especially in light of the album's title. I do, however, find myself a little annoyed at the effects placed upon the drum sounds (like I did on the last song of the Billy's previous album. I find the flange effect particularly cool when the drummer is keeping time or when the song is fading in or out, but when the drummer is this active and nuanced it feels diminishing.) The manual synthesizer work is not very melodic nor is it sophisticated--not unlike Larry Fast's work on his Synergy albums or Patrick Moraz's The Story of I album. (17.625/20) A2. "The Muffin Talks Back" (9:52) opening with quite an interesting (and somewhat distracting) combination of synths, rhythm guitar, and percussive creating a kind of funky Star Wars "Cantina" sound world, the music soon launches into a before smoothing out a bit in the second minute into a kind of Latin-Disco true Jazz-Rock Fusion song. The electric guitar solos (and rhythm play) seal the deal--bringing a two guitar "Prince of the Sea" feel to it like Lenny White's final song from Venusian Summer. (This marks the nth number of times my brain has noted similarities to Lenny's 1975-76 production in Billy's albums from the period soon after.) The performances from everyone involved are quite dynamic, especially the three percussionists and keyboard maestro Don Grolnick. The vocal interjections are a bit odd, as are Al[ph]onso Johnson's bass chords in the seventh and eighth minutes as well. The final two minutes feature an awesome electric guitar solo riding on top (or within the percussion weave) that I'm guessing is Steve Kahn's guitar. If you're a lover of wildly-full percussion work, this would be a great song for you to enjoy! (18.5/20)

B1. "Nickels And Dimes" (7:21) a very interesting and engaging song with multiple motifs each with its own tempo and melodies--the second one really putting Ruth Underwood (Zappa)'s xylophone and the amazing horn section to the paces. A highly complex funk weave. Wonderful stuff! The music smooths out a bit in the fourth minute with a nearly-straight-tempo pattern over which George Duke is given copious time and room to perform a nice Fender Rhodes solo. Then we turn to more percussion based section with bass, winds, and "distant" horns backing John Scofield's extended guitar solo. At 6:10 we return to the "Can't Get Next to You" Discofied motif for some excellent work from the horn section and some prime Billy Cobham drumming. (14.25/15)

B2. "El Barrio" (6:30) another Latin percussion-dominated intro weave that finally gives way at 3:00 to a very pleasant Cubano-feeling motif in which whistles, timbales, bells, and bass are woven into a cheery, upbeat sound reminiscent of stereotypic Latin carnival. The welcome sound of Julian Priester's trombone is given the song's first solo, followed by a somewhat quieter guitar (mixed within the weave of the horn section) from Steve Kahn. Julian gets some shine again as the song ends. I would very much have preferred if this song had been extended! Too bad! (9.25/10)

B3. "Arroyo" (4:15) a slower almost SANTANA-like song with more great interplay between the percussionists (including Billy) while Alphonso maintain's a steady melodic groove over the top within which George Duke's keys and John Scofield's acoustic guitar take turns offering smooth, steady solos (almost in deference to the awesome groove being maintained by the rhythmatists). Nice finish if a slight comedown from the highs of the other four songs. (9/10)

Total Time: 38:51

Once again I feel ever-so grateful that Billy Cobham remains firm and true in his commitment to the high principles of "peak era" Jazz-Rock Fusion: refusing to slide into the easy job of creating Easy Listening Smooth Jazz (which we know he is capable of). The man was and still remains a staunch promoter of high-class Jazz-Rock Fusion.

A-/five stars; another minor masterpiece of "peak era" Third Wave Jazz-Rock Fusion from one of the "true believers" of the movement.