This is
Billy Cobham's third solo recording under his own name and is a fine follow-up to
Crosswinds. The mini-suite "Solarization" not only showcases the band's technical abilities, but also
Cobham's strong compositional skills. It also features a schizophrenic piano solo ("Second Phase") from the underrated pianist
Milcho Leviev, who sounds like a mutation of
Cecil Taylor and
Bill Evans. The funky "Moon Germs," on which
John Abercrombie is pushed to inspiring new heights, became a
Cobham classic. "The Moon Ain't Made of Green Cheese" is a beautiful flugelhorn solo by
Randy Brecker backed by
Cobham's debut on piano. The band stretches out on the lengthy "Sea of Tranquility," while "Last Frontier" is a gratuitous drum solo. This recording is highly recommended as
Cobham still sounds inspired. ~ Robert Taylor