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Idris Ackamoor: Afro Futuristic Dreams

By Angelo Leonardi
October 20, 2023
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Uno dei meriti dell'Afrofuturismo (e delle sue diramazioni musicali che includono Afrobeat, Spiritual jazz ed altro) �� quello d'aver fatto conoscere, oltre i confini delle comunit�� afroamericane, artisti come

Idris Ackamoor

saxophone
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Idris Ackamoor, leader da cinquant'anni del collettivo Pyramids.

Com'�� noto Chicago, San Francisco e Londra sono i poli di produzione musicale del movimento ed �� indicativo ritrovare questi luoghi nel percorso biografico di Ackamoor che parte da Chicago, transita a Parigi (dove nel 1972 fonda The Pyramids, prima di un lungo tour in Africa), si sviluppa in California e rinasce grazie al britannico

Gilles Peterson

electronics

" data-original-title="" title="">Gilles Peterson e all'etichetta londinese Strut Records.

In mezzo secolo il collettivo s'�� sciolto e ricostituito pi�� volte ed oggi assieme ad Idris (al secolo Bruce Baker) resta la flautista

Margaux Simmons

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Margaux Simmons. Il nucleo base attuale include

Sandra Poindexter

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Sandra Poindexter al violino e

Bobby Cobb

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Cobb alla chitarra elettrica.

L'album inizia in modo molto promettente con "Afro Futuristic Dreams" che d�� il titolo all'album e si snoda con il contagioso vamp metallico della chitarra elettrica. Semplice ma efficace. Nel prosieguo del percorso la semplicit�� delle strutture resta ma il mordente tende a svanire: tutti brani si sviluppano su lunghi pedali in tempi uniformi, con la successione di assoli (di Ackamoor, Cobb, Simmons e Poindexter) piuttosto scontati. Il clima intenso e variopinto di Shaman! �� lontano e il percorso riecheggia troppo i clich�� di

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra. Il giovane pubblico dell'urban dance apprezzer�� comunque.

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Track Listing

Side One: Afro Futuristic Dreams; Thank You God. Side Two: Police Dem; First Peoples. Side Three: Truth to Power; Re-Memory; Garland Rose. Side Four: Requiem for the Ancestors; Nice It Up.

Personnel

Idris Ackamoor

saxophone

Sandra Poindexter

violin

Laura Boytz

cello

Aaron Atkinson

trumpet

Greg Stephens

trombone

Margaux Simmons

flute

Bobby Cobb

guitar, electric

Ruben Ramos Medina

bass, electric

John Notaro

multi-instrumentalist

Ernesto Marichales

drums

Daria Niles

vocals

Queen Califa

vocals

Ben Maddox

keyboards

Bradie Speller

percussion

George Hearst

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Idris Ackamoor: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, Yamaha baby grand piano, Hammond organ, cymbal tree, keytar, didgeridoo, thunder sticks, pan flutes, rain stick, bells, bass mbira, talking drum, vocals; Vincent Tolliver: viola; Heshima Mark Williams: acoustic bass.

Album information

Title: Afro Futuristic Dreams | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Strut Records

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