[Calm & stylish]
No.225EX "Ray Of Hope" by PYRAMID
A happy new year 2023.
Hi. We wish you had a nice Christmas holiday and a happy new year.
We would like to start the new year by posting a nice instrumental music. And the song we would like to introduce to you today is, "Ray Of Hope" by "PYRAMID".
As the song title is saying, this instrumental tune reminds us of warm, peaceful, and clear sun shine in the brisk winter morning.
And therefore, we thought this would be a perfect fit for the opening song of the new year in this ambiguous world.
The performer is a prominent Jazz-Fusion instrumental group "Pyramid", which used to be consisted of three expert musicians.
And we are sure you can deeply relax by listening to their masterly play and smooth sound.
If you like, please listen to.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
Some contents have been put away in tabs with "▶" mark in each section, so please click it to see.
We are now working on improving appearances of our posts.
If you find anything odd, please kindly let us know.
Thank you.
Cover art today
Song data
| Title | Ray Of Hope |
|---|---|
| Artist | PYRAMID |
| Album Title | PYRAMID3 |
| Catalog Number | HUCD-10086 |
| Track No. | 11 |
| Duration | 5:18 |
| Released | 2011 |
| Publisher | Huts Unlimited Co., Ltd |
| Lyricist | Instrumental music |
| Composer | Hirotaka IzumiYūji Toriyama |
| Arranger | Yūji Toriyama |
About the creators
Instrumental music Lyricist
This is an instrumental music, and there is no lyrics for this song.
Hirotaka Izumi , Yūji Toriyama Composer
The composers of this instrumental tune are "Hirotaka Izumi, Yūji Toriyama", the members of Pyramid.
Therefore, we would like to come back to them later in "About the artist" section.
Yūji Toriyama Arranger
"Yūji Toriyama" is a guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer, and a member of "Pyramid" active since 1981.
He is one of the best guitarists in Japanese Popular music & instrumental music world, and collaborated with so many musicians in the categories.
Because "Toriyama" is one of the members of "Pyramid", and therefore, we would like to come back to him later in "About the artist" section.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Some notes on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Stylish, peaceful, and decent
This seems to be a stylish, warm, and breezy Pop instrumental music in middle speed.
Gentle breeze
The acoustic piano, and the drums begin an introduction, which reminds me of shining flowers in the morning due, then the bass and electric guitar join.
In the main part, gentle and peaceful phrase is played by the electric guitar in a breezy, but dynamic groove.
In the bridge, the acoustic piano and electric guitar perform smooth, and elegant solo plays.
About the artist
PYRAMID The top of the J-Fusion pyramid
"PYRAMID" is a Fusion & Smooth Jazz instrumental group founded in 2003 by three accomplished super musicians, namely "Akira Jimbo", "Hirotaka Izumi", and "Yūji Toriyama".
Because each members are all one of the most skilled instrumentalists, they throw down the overwhelming performances too even playing as a group. And have been releasing blissfully refined tunes of Smooth Jazz, since the band was formed.
Due to the untimely passing of "Hirotaka Izumi" in 2021, the number of the members became only two.
But the rest of the members are continuing the band activity just as before, by having supports from other excellent musicians close to them.
"PYRAMID" debuted in 2005 with the first album, "PYRAMID". Since then, 5 original albums, and 1 best album have been released until now.
(Ref: ja-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog, PYRAMID)
Early days
According to some references, "Jimbo", "Izumi", and "Toriyama" were peers of the amateur band they belonged to when they were students of a reputed "Keiō Senior High School" in the mid '70s.
All of them successfully went on to "Keiō University" after graduating from high school.
And they started higher-level music activity by joining "Keiō Light Music Society", a famous college big band Jazz circle. (except "Toriyama")
In 1980, even he was still a student of the University, "Akira Jimbo" began a professional career by joining a rising Fusion instrumental group "CASIOPEA".
Because the members of "Casiopea" fell in love with the play of "Akira Jimbo", and repeatedly came and asked him to join.
On the other hand, in 1981, "Yūji Toriyama" produced a surprisingly stylish, Fusion guitar instrumental album by himself while he also was a student.
The album was released from a major label "Agharta" (Canyon International), and this led him to start a career as a professional musician during studying.
In 1982, as is the case in "Akira Jimbo", "Hirotaka Izumi" began his professional career by joining an emerging Pop instrumental group, "The Square" (later T-Square) as a keyboardist while being a student.
In this way, "Jimbo", "Izumi", and "Toriyama" started their careers as musicians in the early '80s'.
All of them were soon recognized as the most brilliant musicians, and greatly contributed to make their respective band, or music genre to bloom.
And now a days, they are all regarded as one of the most accomplished musicians, and indispensable to Japanese Popular music world.
Reunion
Since the debut, they had no very close contact at least musically, because they were all uncommonly prominent in their realms.
In 2003, "Yūji Toriyama" suddenly conceived an idea to form a Fusion instrumental band by inviting "Jimbo" and "Izumi", and play music like they were doing when they were high school students.
"Jimbo" and "Izumi" gladly accepted the proposal from "Toriyama".
The initial name of the band, pushed by "Akira Jimbo", was "O!kay Boy" which came from their school name "Keiō".
But it was not welcomed by other members, and after further discussion, the band was renamed as "Pyramid" when the group was releasing their first album "PYRAMID" in 2005.
And this was the beginning of a super Fusion instrumental group, "Pyramid".
Members
Here is a brief introduction of the members.
(Mostly based on the respective Wikipedia article.)
- Yūji Toriyama (G)
-
As slightly touched in "Arranger" section, "Yūji Toriyama" is a prominent Electric & acoustic guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer, and a member of "Pyramid" active since 1981.
Thanks to his guitarist father, "Toriyama" began to learn the piano, steal guitar, and singing already in childhood.
In high school, "Toriyama" participated in a University Jazz circle "Keiō Light Music Society" as a guitarist even he was still a high school student.
And coincidently, "Toriyama" met with "Jimbo" and "Izumi" at the music circle for the first time in his life .
And this created an opportunity to build their life long friendship, and friendly rivalry.
In 1981, when "Toriyama" was in college, he produced an excellent guitar instrumental album by himself which eventually released as his debut album from an well known major label.
And it marked a meteoric debut of "Toriyama" in the season of Fusion music in the early '80.'
Since debut, "Toriyama" is releasing nice solo albums fairly regularly until now.
And on the other hand, he has been often named from other musicians as a backing guitarist for recording or domestic tours, since the early days of his career because of "Toriyama"'s outstanding playing skill and music sense.
And already in the mid '90s, "Toriyama" had been a notable music producer in Japanese popular music industry.
He had produced many songs and artists like below until now, and helped them to make it a hi song.
In 2003, a plan to form a new Fusion instrumental group emerged by gathering former band mate of "Toriyama", and he became the one to bring it up.
Luckily, "Akira Jimbo" and "Hirotaka Izumi" accepted his proposal, and the group has been actively releasing albums until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Yūji Toriyama)
- "Hirotaka Izumi" (Pf, Kb)
-
"Hirotaka Izumi" was a Jazz Fusion pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, and a former member of prominent Fusion instrumental groups, like "T-Square" or "Pyramid" active from 1982 to 2021.
He was known as the composer of the signature hit songs of "T-Square", namely "Travellers", "Omens of love" or "Takarajima", which are still very popular also as instrumental pieces for brass bands.
He was also known, and had been respected with his outstanding piano skill, and collaborated with dozens of super musicians throughout his life.
Actually, "Izumi" loved to play the acoustic piano that electronic key boards. And his devotion was deepened after he left from "T-Square".
And in "Pyramid", "Izumi" almost always concentrating in playing the acoustic piano, while asking the keyboard or synthesizer parts to other person.
So, we imagine "Pyramid" was a resort like band for "Izumi".
Conveniently, there is a good article about "Hirotaka Izumi" is available on English Wikipedia.
Please have a look at the reference linked below for more details about "Izumi".
(Ref: en.wikipedia.org, Hirotaka Izumi)
- Akira Jimbo (Dr)
-
"Akira Jimbo" is a drummer, composer, arranger, visiting professor, and a former, and current member of a notable bands like, "Casiopea", "Jimsaku", "Shambara", "Pyramid", or "Synchronized DNA" active since 1979.
It is well known that "Jimbo" had started his music career as a member of a top Japanese Fusion group "Casiopea" in the '80s. And since the beginning, his uncanny drum skill has been applauded not only in Japan but from overseas as well.
"Casiopea" (Now Casiopea 3rd) was a 4-piece Japanese Fusion group most active in the '80s. It was a rare Japanese instrumental group which enjoyed striking level of popularity not only in domestic but also internationally.
And with no doubt, "Jimbo"'s unmatchable super drum play and technique had a huge contribution to propel "Casiopea" into popularity, we imagine.
That might be why "Akira Jimbo" was chosen as a member of "A hundred Japanese, being respected from the world" in 2007 by "News Week" magazine Japan edition.
Conveniently, there is a good article about "Akira Jimbo" is available on English Wikipedia.
Please have a look at the reference linked below for more details about "Jimbo".
(* This album is also available in Digital format from other vendors like "Recochoku", or "music.apple.com".)
Forming a band
Answering a call from a guitarist "Yūji Toriyama", his friend and former band mates "Akira Jimbo"(Dr) and "Hirotaka Izumi" (Pf) gathered in 2003 to form a new Jazz & Fusion instrumental band.
In the beginning,the band was named "O!kay Boys" after "Keio" high school which the three of them learned in 25 years ago.
Because all the members were so busy as top musicians in each area, they did not have time to produce an album as a band in reality.
But after two years from teaming up a group, they finally released their first album "PYRAMID" in 2005.
And on this occasion, they have changed the band name to "Pyramid".
Second album
Unexpectedly quickly, "Pyramid" released their second album "Telepath" in 2006.
Different from the first album "Pyramid" (album title), which was decent, pure, and chic, the second album was enhancing Pop and joyful tone which was actually a groove of "Yūji Toriyama".
And through these two albums, the direction of the band became clearer also for the fans.
3rd album
Since the group launched the second album "Telepath" in 2006, they kept quiet for almost five years.
Because, each members were tied up with many other solo and group activities, and were having some difficulty joining and producing a new album as an instrumental band "Pyramid".
But in 2011, they released a long-awaited third album "Pyramid 3" in the end, from new label "HATS UNLIMITED".
The new album contained from excellent brand new tunes to the covers of old classics of crossover music.
And seemingly, "Pyramid" established their musical identity on this album, since we felt their confidence from all the tracks of this album.
One notable fact on this third album "Pyramid 3" was that it was released in April 2011 as originally planned.
But as a matter of fact, April 2011 was just one month after the huge earthquake. And many music albums were postponing the date of release at that time.
We do not know the reason why they dared to release new album in such chaotic time.
But almost certainly, members of "Pyramid" were wishing to heal & cheer the people affected by the disaster.
4th album
It seems that they have recognized the optimum pace of release at this point, considering their daily life get swamped by work as top musicians.
In 2015, the instrumental band "Pyramid" launched their first best album which also contained few newly recorded tracks., for the first time in four years.
In 2018, "Pyramid" released brand-new studio album "Pyramid 4" from their exclusive label "Super Paw".
The album mainly consisted of finest urban mellow instrumental tunes, but also enclosed some vocal tunes, or collaboration with the Violin as well.
It reminds us of the albums of good old GRP label.
Twist of fate
On an April morning in 2021, we could hardly believe the news article reporting a sudden passing of "Hirotaka Izumi" at the age of 62 from illness.
It was so sad, and a huge loss for Japanese popular music, and "Hirotaka" fans all over the world. People were prayed for the soul of "Izumi" after hearing the news.
The remaining members, and the concerned staff members were gathered, and discussed on the future direction of the band. well.
And almost naturally, they agreed to continue this band by receiving supports from old and trusted musicians around them.
Recent
After participating in a series of memorial concerts, or recordings for "Hirotaka Izumi", "Toriyama" and "Jimbo" quickly began a production of a new album as "Pyramid".
And in October 2022, "Pyramid" released their 5th album "Pyramid 5".
From this album, the group decided to sell albums only through downloading or streaming, and not to think the release of CDs as a matter of course.
And distributes CDs only for the member of cloud funding who supported album production as a firm fan of "Pyramid".
Actually, they came to the conclusion like this, after discussed about the style of their activity in rapidly changing music business environment.
Since they are wishing to form bonds with ardent fans of "Pyramid". And we think that is a jolly good idea.
References
For more details about "Pyramid", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: www.toriyamayuji.com,
biography)🇯🇵 -
(Ref:akira-jimbo.uh-oh.jp
biography)🇯🇵 -
(Ref:mistyfountain.com
about)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip of today's tune, "Ray of hope" selected from "Pyramid 3", the third album of the instrumental group "Pyramid" released in 2011.
Fortunately, the record company "avex trax", and the publisher "HATS UNLIMITED CO.,LTD." have uploaded the music clip of this track on Youtube.com as a "Topic" since 2018, though the sound quality remains just "OK" level.
(Because CD sound is really nice, and relaxing.)
If you like, please listen to.
Music Samples
11
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com (Track No.11)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | Ray Of Hope |
|---|---|
| Artist | PYRAMID |
| Album Title | PYRAMID3 |
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