For collectors, this album is a prized possession when ripped to using EAC (Exact Audio Copy) .
(Thelonious Monk) – 5:50 (Stride-meets-avant. Cobham doesn’t swing—he tilts the rhythm. Ponty doubles the melody in eerie harmonics.)
The album relies on the natural resonance of the piano, the wood of the double bass, and the complex textures of the drum kit. Lossy formats (like MP3) often compress the high-frequency cymbal work and lose the deep warmth of the bass.
From the opening notes of the album's first track, "Clock DVA," it's clear that "The Art of Three" is something special. Cobham's drums enter with a burst of energy, as Willis's piano and Cox's bass provide a melodic and harmonic foundation that's both rock-solid and dynamically nuanced. Billy Cobham - The Art of Three -2001- -EAC-FLAC-
The Art of Three strips away the electric bombast of Cobham’s Spectrum era and places the legendary drummer in a pure, acoustic piano trio setting. No synths, no horns, no overdubs—just three masters listening, breathing, and reacting in real time. The result is one of the most intimate and rhythmically sophisticated albums of Cobham’s later career.
You may see the tag appended to this album on various forums (Redump, What.CD archives, or Soulseek). This is not technical vanity; it is a guarantee of provenance.
Focuses on gentle lyricism rather than a brooding atmosphere. Kenny Barron For collectors, this album is a prized possession
The 2001 release generally includes eight tracks, primarily jazz standards: (10:43) Autumn Leaves (10:00) New Waltz (written by Ron Carter) (6:55) Bouncing With Bud (7:02) 'Round Midnight (7:56) And Then Again (written by Kenny Barron) (11:25) I Thought About You (10:26) Someday My Prince Will Come (9:19) Musical Analysis
| Check | What to look for | |-------|------------------| | | Should say “Copy OK” for all tracks, “No errors occurred”, and have AccurateRip match. | | Spectrum (Audacity/Spek) | Frequency should cut off cleanly at 22.05 kHz (CD Nyquist limit) – no gaps, no high-frequency noise. | | CUE sheet | Includes track indexes, pregaps, and CD-TEXT. Useful for burning an exact CD-R backup. |
While Billy Cobham is universally recognized for his thunderous, lightning-fast polyrhythms with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and his groundbreaking solo record Spectrum , The Art of Three shifts the paradigm entirely. This live performance captures Cobham stripped of his massive double-bass electric kit, stepping instead into a traditional, acoustic post-bop setting. Ponty doubles the melody in eerie harmonics
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(Chick Corea) – 6:52 (A sly nod to Corea’s early fusion. Cobham plays under the melody, brushes whispering like wind.)
Recommend similar acoustic albums by Billy Cobham or Ron Carter.
: Recording, Remixing, and Remastering Engineer Frank Kleinschmidt : Producer (for In & Out Records) Key Highlights