Hi,

I happened to stumble across this album at a Borders Music store and gave it a listen... it has some original tunes by Nick Webb, and an appearance by Mr c. It is a by an artist named Kymaera whom i have never heard of, but the CD has some nice tunes... I was wondering if anybody (Kat? Stewart?) knows anything about this CD?

(though i think the some of the songs are scrambled on the Amazon site... Like Hearts in Chains... don't remember it being that way at the record store)

Here is a link to Amazon if anybody would like to check it out:

Frank,
Kymaera is a band fronted by Simon James, Nick's original AA partner. Simon left in 1984(5?) and was replaced by non other than Mr. C. - and the rest, as they say, is history...
Bob

Check this out. These were flat black discs measuring about 12" across and spun at 33 and one third revolutions per minute on a moving platform called (I believe) a "turntable." I think they were called "records"
http://www.magicisland.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=000009

Hey Bob,

Thanks for the feedback... very interesting. So, is this a new release, or a re-release of an older album? (yes, those black frisby looking objects... still have a few of them... kept my technics turntable just for special occasions.. )

Fun to explain these old devices to my 6yr old sometimes... so much instant gratification these days!

Frank,
It appears to be a re-release of the original 2001 release, which has a different cover than the one on Amazon. I have a copy of the older one, signed by Greg.
Bob
http://entertainment.circuitcity.com/Music/Album.aspx?prodid=STRJ1015.2&si=ccity-prod&store=Music

More on Simon James:
Simon James is an English acoustic guitarist and an original member of Acoustic Alchemy. After leaving the band, he later went on to form Kymaera, a Latin-style contemporary jazz band.

Simon James was born in York, England, and educated at Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire, Leeds College of Music, and Trinity College of Music, London. In 1981 he attended the first Master Class in Flamenco to be given by Paco Peña in Cordoba, and this traditional art from Spain became a very strong influence in his music clearly present in the Early Alchemy recording.

A founder member of the band Acoustic Alchemy (1980), he appeared with them at Ronnie Scott's and the Purcell Room, London in 1983. In 1984/85 he and Nick Webb began a long and successful collaboration with the actress Sylvia Syms on a series of shows combining poetry and music (The Female Principle, If This Be Love, Mothers And Daughters, Love Lust And We All Make Mistakes).

In 1987 Simon James formed his own publishing company, Designer Music Ltd., to develop the compositional side of his work, which eventually led to the creation of the band Kymaera in 1998.

‘Into The Rainbow,’released in June 2001, and featuring Greg Carmichael from the present Acoustic Alchemy, was a tribute to his old partner Nick Webb who died in February 1998.

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_James_%28musician%29"
Bob

Bob... you are a veritable font of knowledge...

I guess this explains some of the "flamenco and latin roots" of the earlier AA offerings.... "Red Dust and Spanish Lace" an obvious one...

Do you own or recommend any of Kymaera's CD's?

(I know, Kat, this is an AA BBS.... just being curious... :p )

No - I haven't heard any others. I was just interested in the Nick Webb/AA connection.

Kymaera's other releases: two in 1998: 'Rio Moods' (MCI), a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim; the second (title?)on the Prestige Jazz label consisted of the music of George Michael; a third, 'Careless Whispers' (MCI) was released in September 1998. 'Into The Rainbow’ was released in 2001. The original ‘Into The Rainbow’ has now been combined with unreleased tracks, re-mastered and due for release in January 2007 by Sheridan Square Records in the USA. (this must be the one on Amazon)

As you noted, we'd better end this thread because it's somewhat off-topic - and I wouldn't want to suffer the wrath of Ms. Moderator!
Best,
Bob

no issues... you can keep talking... you have the connection via Nick Webb's legacy.... and Simon James' connection to AA.

now if you wanted to start talking about Def Leppard, I might have to remind you this is an AA board !

Ah yes Kat but i can talk about Def Lep cos they were first signed to Polygram in my office !!! so that wouldnt be off topic !