EM Rec.
Idris Ackamoor : Music Of (US,1971-2004)****'
Idris Ackamoore's first group before The Pyramids, was The Collective, who made a few live recordings, of which this one and is published for the first time. We hear a rhythmical-repetitive piano theme with a starting tune on sax/flute, losing its hanging together tightness a bit during its expansion, turning to a few off-key and off-beat accents a few times, the sax getting wilder, while the trumpet solo/piano rhythm theme returns the track to a certain stability, before the flute adds another solo and the rhythms tend to lose itself once more, the starting theme finally is re-established by piano and sax (1971). This is followed by an early Pyramids track (1972). This was recorded at VPRO in Holland. Several solos tend to burst out of its rhythmical tune and balance as well, while the drums and fast bass elements still can keep it together with a feeling of inner expansion. Within these fast rhythmic evolutions and improvisations something is loose and free. Flute whistles and shouts and cymbals and drums at some stage are all that is. The next few tracks come from the Pyramids LP's, three tracks from Lalibela (1973) and two from “King Of Kings (1974) with in between another unreleased live track from 1974. The Lalibela title track is very rhythmic (overloaded with rhythms), with sax solos with flute harmonies on top. The second track is with thumb piano, bowed string, rhythms and flute solo. It has something mysterious and strange. The third track is heavier and complex in rhythm, with a driving force by bass, with African shouts, and wild but well fitting sax solos. The live track is a more meditative-hypnotic moment, which hangs in a repetitive bass rhythm, it slowly improvises with sax and clarinet, then becomes wilder in the brass section and the rhythms of bass and drums tends to expand again from within exploring far beyond its borders, before settling in again with the grounding bass rhythm. The “King Of Kings” tracks are again very rhythmically groovy with complex in rhythm founded layers (singing theme, piano repetition, hand percussion ad drums) with solos of flute and sax. Again this is a play between keeping the groove and expanding its inner core. The second track from the same album is more meditative and is led by flute with accompanying rhythms, handshakers, bells and vocals with some adapted/embedded sax, and later with plucked/strummed harp strings.
The second CD starts with two tracks from the third and last album by The Pyramids. The first track is based upon the repetition of the name “Aomawa”. This is again very rhythmically strong improvised music, with a groovy bass and sax/flute solos. The second, more exotic track features musical instruments like Uganda harp, Chinese Cheng, and a Rosenbow. It has a tone-inspiring intro, then a flute lead solo with several harp-like and hand shaking instruments accompaniments. This is followed by another early Pyramids track from the VPRO studios, inspired on Yosef Ben-Johanna's book on black ancient Egypt. Also this is more meditative, rhythmical, with cymbals and such, even though there are free improvisations on sax. Then quiet wind whirlies are played on a bass rhythm before turning to an arranged tune on sax and flute, before another extreme wild excursion on sax, only to calm down in rhythms once more, with a fast bass solo. One of the instruments used was “the ope”, a piece of bamboo with a saxophone mouthpiece. This goes fluently into the next duo track (sax and flute only) recorded in Ghana with African percussionists. After the Pyramids disbanded Idris was still able to continue professionally under the form of a non-profit organisation. The last four tracks are jazz styled tracks recorded between 1978 and 2004 with his Ensemble/Quartet. The last track, “Centurion” even though in compact rhythms and straight forward jazz melody has a very interesting and rewarding mixture of incorporated poly-rhythmic details. “Cubana” is more relaxed and shows a matured Idris band. Never the less, I loved the wild years.
