Finally online the Boiler Room Session from the 9th Dec in London / UK ….
Jan 212014
The Pyramids – Lalibela
———————————————– Releasedate: 14. December 2012 Worldwide Format: DB163 | Indigo 97233-1 Tracklisting: LALIBELA 01. Lalibela ———————————————–
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Lalibela
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.” Lalibela (1973) was the first album recorded by The Pyramids following their landmark journey throughout Africa as students from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The album is one of the first cutting-edge “concept” albums as each side of the LP seamlessly flows from one composition to the next in the vein of a suite painting a musical portrait of the African adventure experienced by founding members Idris Ackamoor, Margaux Simmons, and Kimathi Asante. Lalibela, Ethiopia was the inspiration for the album. A journey to experience the 12th century rock churches of Lalibela by Margaux and Idris closed out their nine-month African odyssey. The personnel for the recording was augmented by new members percussionist Bradie Speller (Hekaptah), drummer Marcel Lytle, and soprano saxophonist Tony Owens (Masai). The album has plenty percussion driven rhythms, beautiful alto sax and flute melodies, soaring and “out” improvisations, ritualistic chants, meditative tone pieces, high energy modal jams, and exotic African instruments collected during the African trip. |
The Pyramids – Birth/Speed/Merging
———————————————– Releasedate: 14. December 2012 Worldwide Format: DB165 | Indigo 97234-1 Tracklisting: BIRTH/SPEED/MERGING 01. Aomawa ———————————————–
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Birth/Speed/Merging
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.” 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. |
The Pyramids – King Of Kings
———————————————– Releasedate: 14. December 2012 Worldwide Format: DB164 | Indigo 97233-1 Tracklisting: KING OF KINGS 1. Mogho Naba (King Of Kings) ———————————————–
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King Of Kings
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.” King of Kings (1974) was the second album that reunited all original members includ-ing drummer Donald Robinson while adding several special guests, pianist Jerome Sanders, and cellist Chris Chafe. King of Kings was recorded at Appalachia Sound Recording Studio located several hours away from Antioch in Chillicothe, Ohio. Unknown to the band at the time, Chillicothe was the site of ancient Indian burial mounds. This reality added to the very spiritual quality of the recording. The opening track Mogho Naba continued the groups’ fascination and interest in African history and reflections. The Mogho Naba is the King of the Mossi people in what is now Burkina Faso, but dates back in antiquity. The tune’s rhythm is infectious! The use of call and response chants and beautiful horn lines is meant to hypnotize and induce trance elevating spiritual consciousness. Queen of the Spirits was written as a dedication to flautist Margaux Simmons. It is one of the bands’ favorite pieces of music. Utilizing the Ugandan harp, the African one string fiddle (Goge), percussion, piano and cello, the closing is prescient harking to world music and music for meditation that would come years later! The UK band Bonobo sampled a section of the composition for their hit album “Days to come”. |
The Pyramids – They Play To Make Music Fire!
 
———————————————– Releasedate: 14. December 2012 Worldwide Format: DB162 | Indigo 97231-2 Tracklisting: LALIBELA 01. Lalibela KING OF KINGS 1. Mogho Naba (King Of Kings) BIRTH/SPEED/MERGING 01. Aomawa ———————————————–
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They Play To Make Music Fire! The Pyramids 1973 – 1976Founded 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.” After a highly energetic reformation (reunion) of the group in 2007, The Pyramids lately released Otherworldly (DB159) – the first Pyramids’ album in over 35 years!!! To complete the whole story of The Pyramids, Disko B now re-releases the three rare Pyramids’ recordings from the 70s in a triple CD box under the title: They Play to Make Music Fire! The Pyramids 1973 – 1976 (DB162CD). Over this there will be a limited vinyl edition of the three masterpieces. The three albums of the 70s: Lalibela (1973) was the first album recorded by The Pyramids following their landmark journey throughout Africa as students from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The album is one of the first cutting-edge “concept” albums as each side of the LP seamlessly flows from one composition to the next in the vein of a suite painting a musical portrait of the African adventure experienced by founding members Idris Ackamoor, Margaux Simmons, and Kimathi Asante. Lalibela, Ethiopia was the inspiration for the album. A journey to experience the 12th century rock churches of Lalibela by Margaux and Idris closed out their nine-month African odyssey. The personnel for the recording was augmented by new members percussionist Bradie Speller (Hekaptah), drummer Marcel Lytle, and soprano saxophonist Tony Owens (Masai). The album has plenty percussion driven rhythms, beautiful alto sax and flute melodies, soaring and “out” improvisations, ritualistic chants, meditative tone pieces, high energy modal jams, and exotic African instruments collected during the African trip. King of Kings (1974) was the second album that reunited all original members includ-ing drummer Donald Robinson while adding several special guests, pianist Jerome Sanders, and cellist Chris Chafe. King of Kings was recorded at Appalachia Sound Recording Studio located several hours away from Antioch in Chillicothe, Ohio. Unknown to the band at the time, Chillicothe was the site of ancient Indian burial mounds. This reality added to the very spiritual quality of the recording. The opening track Mogho Naba continued the groups’ fascination and interest in African history and reflections. The Mogho Naba is the King of the Mossi people in what is now Burkina Faso, but dates back in antiquity. The tune’s rhythm is infectious! The use of call and response chants and beautiful horn lines is meant to hypnotize and induce trance elevating spiritual consciousness. Queen of the Spirits was written as a dedication to flautist Margaux Simmons. It is one of the bands’ favorite pieces of music. Utilizing the Ugandan harp, the African one string fiddle (Goge), percussion, piano and cello, the closing is prescient harking to world music and music for meditation that would come years later! The UK band Bonobo sampled a section of the composition for their hit album “Days to come”. 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. Reunion? Re-Incarnation! 2007 it came to a highly energetic reunion, boosting their trademark sound of massive afro-centric drums & percussion meeting ecstatic group improvisations. The Pyramids’ extensive European tours in 2010 through 2012 turned out to be a great triumph: mesmerizing audiences at various clubs and festivals all over Europe with a new sound and a new band configuration featuring founding members Idris Ackamoor and Kimathi Asante, original members Bradie Speller and Kenneth Nash, and special guest artist Kash Killion. “Wow – what a show they put on!” Gilles Peterson The collective received rave reviews and standing ovations in every city they played in. They also blew Gilles Peterson’s mind at WORLDWIDE FESTIVAL and the WORLDWIDE AWARDS where The Pyramids’ spiritual and musical leader, Idris Ackamoor was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In summer 2011 The Pyramids were recording tracks for a new double album (the first since 1976!) at the studio of Krautrock legends Faust in South Germany. |
The Pyramids – Otherworldly
Format: doLP / CD Tracklisting: 01 Memory Ritual 02 Time Capsule 03 What The World Needs Now 04 Nebulosity 05 Nebulosity Part 2 06 Uttering Sacred Words 07 Cloud Rider 08 Boundless Eterneties 09 Absolution 10 Ancient Funk 11 Otherworldly 12 They Came From Chicago 13 St. Louis Two! 14 Reincarnation 15 Memory Ritual / Extended Version ———————————————–
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The adventure begins! Discover The Pyramids…again!! Founded 40 years ago in 1972 “Otherworldly” is the first Pyramids’ album in over 35 years. They released three albums before splitting up in 1977 – albums that made them one of the most mysterious and legendary of all the spiritual cosmic jazz collectives of the early 70s. Reunion? Re-Incarnation!!! 2007 it came to a highly energetic reunion, boosting their trademark sound of massive afro-centric drums & percussion meeting ecstatic group improvisations. The Pyramids’ extensive European tours in 2010/11 turned out to be a great triumph: mesmerizing audiences at various clubs and festivals all over Europe with a new sound and a new band configuration featuring founding members Idris Ackamoor and Kimathi Asante, original member Bradie Speller, and special guest artists Kenneth Nash and Kash Killion. “Wow – what a show they put on!” The collective received rave reviews and standing ovations in every city they played in. They also blew Gilles Peterson’s mind at WORLDWIDE FESTIVAL and the WORLDWIDE AWARDS where The Pyramids’ spiritual and musical leader, Idris Ackamoor was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In summer 2011 The Pyramids were recording tracks for a new double album (the first since 1976!) at the studio of Krautrock legends Faust in South Germany. “We were way ahead of our time, so we decided to let time catch up” Otherworldly The new album contains 14 never before released tracks. The Pyramids’ signature sound is still percussion driven, no surprise with Nash and Speller being two of the most masterful percussionists on the planet. Another signature style of The Pyramids is the “two bass” concept combining Kash Killion’s acoustic bass with electric bass by Thomas “Kimathi Asante” Williams. Ancient funk. Idris Ackamoor plays his alto sax in an absolutely astonishing way, sometimes simultaneously performing tap dance to create percussive rhythms, “suggesting a post-be-bop Prince” as the NY Times called him. The Pyramids trip out into unexplored territory of spontaneous improvisation, sometimes trance like off to an outer inner space journey. They play to make music fire! “Otherworldly reminds of a giant insect colony on another planet doing a collective mating dance.” The Pyramids were world music even before the term was coined back in the early 70’s. They use a battery of ethnic instruments you’ll probably never heard of like mbira, calypso boxes, Russian zither, West African bolong, Egyptian sensemia harp, pygmy whistle,.. But they don’t play them trying to duplicate the authentic African music but use them in a way that the music does sound almost otherworldly: “We want to play music that is original and full of imagination; completely boundless.” Past, Present & Future THE PYRAMIDS are truly at one with their art: Like Sun Ra and the Art Ensemble of Chicago they are part of the original movement from the 70s, but also part of the present and the future: Unique avant-garde exploring the musical roots of their African ancestors as well as looking forward to an otherworldly future in outer-space. “Their spiritual mix of free jazz, ethnic authenticity and street funk remains remarkably untouched.” |
