Samba For Hermes Trismegistus

from Potions by The Alchemists

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    POTIONS, the debut studio album of The Alchemists, features improvised, melodic, multi-genre music. Comes in a transmutated jewel case created by the Philosopher’s Stone, liner notes by Emperor Rudolph II and dowsed with original art. Follow the alchemical storyline that frames the album at individual track pages. A CD Baby Editors’ Pick.

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THE UNFOLDING TALE - TRACK 4

Hermes Trismegistus (“thrice great”) is a slippery guy to pin down. His first name is associated with that of the Greek god (aka Mercury to the Romans), whose trickster persona was one of many attributes on a rap sheet a mile long (wisdom, thievery, messenger, moves between boundaries, takes souls to the underworld, etc etc).

As a person existing in ancient times, he may be more mythological than actual. In any event, he is referenced by both Christian and later Islamic cultures as the prophet/philosopher/author of books that give us the hermetic philosophy mainlined over the centuries by western alchemy, though his name may also have been placed on some to provide more promo.

Let’s pretend he existed. If so, he would be long dead by the time Rudolph II (Track 1) was active - unless … might he have beaten Albertus Magnus to the punch in producing the immortal-granting Elixir of Life (Track 10)? Or better yet, did he partake of some of the attributes of his namesake, especially as the one who crosses boundaries and transitions, giving him the skill to open a time portal at will to roam the ages? That’s why he might call for a samba, whose rhythm he always loved, when feeling in a joyful mood. He certainly leaves his footprints across a lot of tracks in this tale.

In Prague, Hermes takes pleasure in long discussions with fanboy John Dee (Track 9) while they walk along the banks of the Vltava. Today he sits on a bench in Central Park near Bethesda Fountain, dispensing wisdom and playing congas to all willing to listen.

———————————-

You are invited to respond to questions asked in a track narrative, point out significant factual errors in any narratives and, of course, comment on the music itself. To address alchemical issues, send a message via Contact The Alchemists. Material used will be acknowledged. To comment on music you need to buy the CD and have a Bandcamp Fan Account.

For more info about the album and the narrative used to frame it after the recording was made, go to the Potions home page.

credits

from Potions, released December 13, 2015
Tom Hall - Tenor Saxophone
Jerry Leake - Percussion
Dennis Livingston - Flute, Sopranino and Alto Recorders
Bob Nieske - Bass
Randy Roos - Guitar

Full bios are at the Potions home page.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Randy Roos at Squam Sound, Ashland, NH
Graphic Design by John Colan
Artwork by Chris Gill
Produced and liner notes written by Dennis Livingston

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The Alchemists Boston, Massachusetts

Improvised, melody-driven, inventively original songs. Blues, Latin rhythms, Indian beats, chamber music and other far-flung genres. Wild outbursts of sound. All woven into unexpected compositions.
“Each of The Alchemists improvs on Journey To The East is like a circus act of music, teasing the listener with suspense about what kind of feat will come next.” Steve Elman, critic for The Arts Fuse ... more

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