Cobham Meets Bellson

Billed as "an epic drum battle between jazz titans," this 1984 concert featuring rock-fusion heavyweight Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra) sitting in with the Louie Bellson Big Band is clearly aimed at dyed-in-the-wool drum freaks. The where and exact when of this show is never made clear, but the concept—the old master meeting up with the young lion—is intriguing. And when the two trade four-bar blasts, leaving the band behind, things get pretty thrilling. Cobham is absolutely at the top of his game, but the much older Bellson doesn't seem to have trouble keeping up, never breaking a sweat or doffing his Mickey Mouse pullover. Their duet playing with the band is fun, as well, but things drop off fast during a long, improvised "conversation," where Bellson seems all too willing to follow Cobham's lead, while a persistent audio hiss leaves the viewer straining to hear when the drummers go from crash-and-bang to tap-and-touch. Both, however, appear to be having the time of their lives, and fans of kit drumming are likely to enjoy seeing two wildly talented drummers showing off, despite the technical limitations of this Dolby Digital stereo presentation. DVD extras include a bonus clip and text bios. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (M. Moore)