The Recording of'From The Bush To The Pridelands' by Neil Pyzer.

The recording for 'From the Bush to the Pridelands' was completed entirely at Stanley House studios in West London, England. The project took about a year to complete and was recorded using a computer based hard disk digital recording system.

The initial ideas were sketched out in arrange mode and then the individual musicians would be layered on top.The improvisations were mostly first or second takes, as this seems to be the most successful way to capture an individual interpretation. The first or second takes are the most useable in terms of spontaneity because the musician has nothing to refer to ,and the ideas flow in their purest form.

Although the overall sound and discipline of this recording is leaning towards the traditional in terms of the use of acoustic instruments, the newer technologies that are prevalent in modern music today have also been embraced. Samples of certain acoustic instruments have been included in the composition with an aim to create aural textures that could not be created in the traditional way. Effects have also been used to create different timbres.

The Santoor is a traditional Indian instrument that is played by hitting the strings with small hammers.

The Sitar is the most popular and respected stringed instrument from northern India. The inventor of this amazing instrument was a famous musician and poet : Amir Khusro.There are two sets of strings resting on two bridges.On the upper bridge there are seven strings ; four for playing the melody, and three for rhythmic variations and resonance. The lower bridge carries 13 sympathetic strings, all for resonance and occasional plucking.

Kamalesh Patel plays the sitar on this recording.

Many different percussion instruments were used during the recording of this album most of them played by Graham Cuttill ,who also played the traditional Drum Kit.

On the left we have the conga .

The Tabla is a two -piece drum and was created when Amir Khurso,the inventor of the sitar,cut an ancient percussion instrument called the Pakawaj in two.

The Djembe is an African Drum and is reputed to be the most widely played of all rhythm instruments.

The Musicians on 'From The Bush to The Pridelands' are:

Neil Pyzer: Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Keyboards, Darbuka, Rainstick, Dholak and Samples.

Graham Cuttill: Drums, Congas, Bongoes, Djembe,Clave,Chinese Cymbals,Tambour, Eggs and Bell-Tree.

Kamalesh Patel: Sitar

Rob Harris: Guitar

Miles Kayne: Guitar

Beverley Skeete: Voices

All compositions for Artichoke music by Neil Pyzer except 'Pedro': Pyzer/Skeete.