Deep Groove Encyclopedia

Ramp

Click below for a Ramp sample:

The first and possibly best of Roy Ayers' associated groups, Ramp (an acronym for Roy Ayers Music Production) was a quintet from Cincinnati whose members were vocalists Sibel Thrasher and Sharon Matthews, guitarist Landy Shores, drummer John Manuel and Nate White on bass. Their sole recording was Come Into Knowledge, an LP that sank upon initial release but is now one of the definitive statements of 70s soul fusion. International interest in Ramp was revived when A Tribe Called Quest sampled "Daylight" for their "Bonita Applebaum."

Ramp's Deepest Groove

Come Into Knowledge (Blue Thumb, 1977)
One of the true rare groove classics, this LP had been in high demand among soul afficiandos, but the sampling of "Daylight" made it even more desirable. View this as an extension of Ayers' Lifeline LP of the same period, as the band hits similar levels of aural bliss on "Come Into Knowledge," "Look Into the Sky" and their version of "Everybody Loves the Sunshine." "Give It" and "Try Try Try" provide the necessary funk quotient to balance the smooth tunes. A masterpiece of moody and jazzy soul, miss the reissue at your peril.