OUR MISSION
Our mission is to bring the world music that uplifts and creatively transforms a planet in need of harmony. Using sound vibration as the primary mode of transformation, we achieved a successful amalgamation of the harmonic and rhythmic movements of spirit.
Meditations was produced by Rhythm Testament, to showcase the need for Inner Reflections. This music immediately transforms the listener into the tranquil world of nature’s elements infused with Kalimba and Mbira. Cycles of sound are created to guide you to focus on the one (yourself).
Once established, the sound moves into layer, upon layers of beautiful Mbira harmonies with color and light correspondence. Relax and allow the vibratory frequency of this music to find a resonating chamber in your heart.
STORE
Meditations was produced by Rhythm Testament, to showcase the need for personal inner reflections. The music transforms the listener into the tranquil world of nature’s elements infused with the ancient and sacred frequencies of Kalimba and Mbira. Cycles of sound are created to guide you to focus on the one (yourself). The sound flows into layers of beautiful Kalimba and Mbira harmonies with color and light correspondences. Dr. Albert Gunn
Meditations embodies a three phase Repertory: Body, Mind & Soul
supports stretching and movement of the upper body down to the waist, engaging the listener in the repetitive nature of life’s interior and exterior clocks.
adds the bottom torso to the motion movement with
stretching and cardio vascular increase.
the portal awakens when we still the body and
make mental contact with the wisdom and guidance of our philosophical ancestors.
represents all the elements that make and form our body.
Whole body movement and stretching is incorporated in this composition.
is the celebration of mind and body together when
working as a cohesive unit.
enter your interior world of infinite love and harmony
is the longing of the soul’s return to it’s proper position of
“soul control”. Stay meditatively present.
represents the repository of wisdom stored for your
journey.
as we ascend the journey will be filled with bumps, turns,
and road blocks, however meditative presence will guide you.
an ancient lullaby for all ages.
PLAYER
VIDEOS
Rhythm Testament Records is thrilled to announce the release of the debut album from Carlos Pride & Dr. Albert Gunn, Meditations, available everywhere on 02/15/2019.
Play Video
BIOS
Carlos Pride
Master Percussionist
Growing up on the South Side of Chicago my mother was a piano player and taught music in the Chicago Public Schools for thirty five years. Records were always playing in our home, which sparked my love of music. When I was five years old my mother gave me a small guitar and a pair of bongos. I would spend most of my youth exploring them as well as a series of African thumb pianos. In my early teens I studied drums with Fred White (Earth Wind and Fire) and Famoudou Don Moye (Art Ensemble Of Chicago) and began playing in the Chicago Blues Clubs. Bassist J.W. Williams gave me my first blues gig as the drummer with his band “The Chi-Town Hustlers”. Over the next several years I would play with the late Valerie Wellington, Carlos Johnson, the late Lefty Dizz and Buddy Guy.
I met the late Frankie Knuckles in the early 1980’s. We were both members of the Imports Etc. Record Pool. Frankie taught me how to splice tape to make remixes. My love of dance music was born.
While attending the American Conservatory of Music I met Midawo Gideon Foli Alorwoyie, a master drummer from Accra, Ghana. Gideon introduced me to the Talking Drum. I also joined his group “The African American Unity Ensemble”. While performing with the ensemble I met the late Abubakari Lunna, a master drummer from Dagbon Ghana and a direct descendant of the creators of the “Luna” or “Ghana Talking Drum”.
Gideon and Abu exposed me to a world of rhythmic and melodic possibilities and inspired me to form my own ensemble “Rhythm Testament,” to explore the rhythms of my ancestors and incorporate them with modern instrumentation.
Over the years I have performed professionally in a wide variety of musical situations with various artists including:
Talking Drum Master Rasaki Aladokun (King Sunny Ade), Ethiopian Vocalist Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw, The late Pianist & Vocalist Ann Ward, Guitarist Jean Paul Bourelly, Saxophonist Ari Brown, Organist Reuben Wilson, The late Norman Hedman, The late Screaming Jay Hawkins, N’ Dea Davenport of the “Brand New Heavies”, Nona Hendricks, Will Downing, Gerald Albright, George Clinton, Me’ Shell Ndege’ocello, The Indigo Girls, Sinead O’Connor, Natalie Merchant, Talib Kweli & Amel Larrieux.
Dr. Albert Gunn
Kalimba Master
In 1976, I was in a store when an object with metal keys first caught my attention. It was hand-held with different length metal keys. I inquired and was told it was an Mbira. I pushed down on the keys and my world changed instantly. The Mbira or commonly called the “African thumb piano”, became a major part of my life. Istarted playing and making the Mbira as if I had known it all my life. I entered medical school the fall of that same year, thus my marriage of music and medicine was formed.
Captivated by the sound of the Mbira, I used gourds as resonating chambers to amplify the sound quality of my instruments. Myself, along with my partner I AM Wright started selling them at art fairs throughout the Midwest and shortly thereafter orders started to really come in, and the business “Mbira Makers” was born. I finished medical school in 1980 and immediately upon graduation with four other partners opened the Fine Arts Naprapathic Center in Downtown Chicago. Using Music and Art as a major healing component in health, we thrived on Michigan Avenue, holding major Art Gallery Showings and Music Therapy Venues.
During this period I connected with master musicians the late Light Henry Huff and Khalfani Rivers forming the Sound Therapy Research Ensemble. Sound Therapy sessions were conceived by healing artist within the ensemble on November 12, 1984. We used mediation, yoga. tai-chi, and dance therapy, all asmethods of bringing this unity into focus. Until his transition, the late Light Henry Huff led Sound Therapy Research Ensemble into ground breaking musical experiences. Our Meditation at Sunrise series became so popular it was featured on Warner Sanders CBS program SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW.
Meditation has been an integral part of my life since the early 1970’s so having a way to use music to go into centering my minds-eye has been a very useful tool. Using two of Africa’s most ancient instruments, the Mbira and Kalimba, we have created sound vibrations to carry you in your upward journey toward resonance with all of life. Sound has been used throughout man’s journey to elevate, soothe, comfort, excite, and harmonize. In collaboration with Rhythm Testament’s founder Mr. Carlos Pride, we have crafted Mbira and Kalimba sounds in our first recording together. Meditate upon this.
BOOKING
The African talking drum over crescent moons and a handmade iron drum key are the symbols for the Rhythm Testament logo.
Rhythm Testament
Chicago IL
Rhythm Testament musicians are available for
Master Classes, Studio Sessions, Music Production and Live Performances. For further information please contact: bookings@rhythmtestament.com
General Manager: Justin Williams / jwilliams618@gmail.com
