From the AllMusic website: After the tearing rock-jazz of his first solo album, Billy Cobham mellowed out somewhat on his second, with pleasing results. The theme of the album is nature and the increased use of horns – especially the trombone of Garnett Brown – adds a more organic feel. Some comparisons between Crosswinds and Billy’s first solo outing are unavoidable. George Duke provides electric piano and other keyboards with more subtlety than Jan Hammer. Similarly, John Abercrombie’s very tasteful guitar work is rich and interesting if less pyrotechnic than Tommy Bolin’s on Spectrum. Even the leader’s drumming is less aggressive, though no less powerful. Studio effects are employed to add colour, such as the ‘phased’ solo on the ‘Storm’ section of the side-long suite ‘Spanish Moss’. Perhaps there is a stronger funk-feel on this album; certainly ‘The Pleasant Pheasant’ swings it’s feathery ass off. With the Brecker Brothers horns providing propulsion throughout, Crosswinds is a very satisfying and enlivening listen. Could this be a disc that combines jazz, rock and funk successfully? Definitely worth seeking out to form your own opinion.
