The Pyramids – Birth/Speed/Merging

Releasedate:

14. December 2012 Worldwide

Format:
180g vinyl reissue from the original master tapes

DB165 | Indigo 97234-1

Tracklisting:

Founded 40 years ago in 1972 The Pyramids released three albums before splitting up in 1977: Lalibela (1973), King Of Kings (1974) followed by the seminal Birth/Speed/Merging LP (1976). Three albums that made them one of the most mysterious and legendary of all the spiritual cosmic jazz collectives of the early 70s, like the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Sun Ra.

“We were way ahead of our time, so we decided to let time catch up.”
Idris Ackamoor

Birth Speed Merging (1976) represents the San Francisco Bay Area era of the band.  Relocating from Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1974 The Pyramids quickly met other musicians in the thriving San Francisco Bay Area music scene.  After the departure of original member Kimathi to continue his African studies a very talented acoustic bass player named Heshima Mark Williams joined the band along with a new conga player named Mcheza Ngoma and new drummer Augusta Lee Collins. The Pyramids began working extensively around the area.  Within the next year Kimathi returned from his travels and rejoined the band. The Pyramids now had two bass players; one acoustic and one electric. The composition Jamaican Carnival pays homage to the beautiful Caribbean island Jamaica and is one of the bands’ most danceable tunes. For the composition, Birth/Speed/Merging Suite, the band utilized the brilliant percussionist Kenneth Nash to play on the track and it is one of the bands’ most interesting and exotic compositions.  There are a variety of unusual and beautiful percussion and string instruments used on the track featuring the Ugandan Harp, the Chinese Cheng, and a string instrument called the Rosenbow. The composition is an aural delight of unusual sounds and beautiful colors.