Back in 1972, in Besancon, France, alto-saxophonist Idris Ackamoor first met Margaux Simmons and bassist Kimathi Asante to found a group called The Pyramids. This project, that defined Ackamoor’s musical life, has endured almost 50 years - reforming several times in the process before a lasting reunion that occurred a decade ago. Shaman!, released last week via Strut Records, is the band’s new album - a daring suite that incorporates sub-Saharan jazz, free jazz, Afrobeat, Afro-Cuban music, spoken word, and more.

Transitioning from the political and social themes presented in 2018’s acclaimed An Angel Fell, Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids’ new album explores more introspective moments, unfolding in four acts with two tracks each, comprising personal musical statements about love, loss, mortality, afterlife, family, salvation. Intricate compositions, taking us effortlessly across moods and emotions through a series of expansive, extended pieces. Shaman! is a 76-minute odyssey that marks another significant landmark in The Pyramids' discography with the band at the peak of their powers. Available in vinyl, courtesy of Strut Records.

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Shaman! features Pyramids co-founder Simmons on flute, longtime band member Sandra Poindexter on violin, Bobby Cobb on guitar, and three new members from Europe in Jack Yglesias, Ruben Ramon Ramos, and Gioele Pagliaccia.