MARSHALL ALLEN PRESENTS SUN RA & THE ARKESTRA - In the Orbit of Ra
Stunt/Art Yard STRUT109
CD 1:
1. SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – SOMEWHERE IN SPACE 3.01
2. SUN RA & HIS SOLAR-MYTH ARKESTRA – THE LADY WITH THE GOLDEN STOCKINGS 7.43
3. SUN RA AND HIS AFRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – SOMEBODY ELSE’S WORLD 3.59
4. SUN RA – SPONTANEOUS SIMPLICITY 7.54
5. SUN RA & HIS SOLAR-MYTH ARKESTRA – PLUTONIAN NIGHTS 4.20
6. THE SUN RA ARKESTRA – ANGELS AND DEMONS AT PLAY 2.51
7. SUN RA – ISLAND IN THE SUN (Extended version – previously unreleased) 10.20
8. SUN RA – ROCKET NUMBER NINE TAKE OFF FOR PLANET VENUS 6.18
9. SUN RA – SOLAR DIFFERENTIALS 6.20
CD 2:
1. SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – ASTRO BLACK 10.51
2. SUN RA AND HIS INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – HAVE YOU HEARD THE LATEST NEWS FROM NEPTUNE 5.51
3. SUN RA – DANCE OF THE COSMO ALIENS (Live In Milan, 1978) 11.00
4. SUN RA – TRYING TO PUT THE BLAME ON ME (Live In Rome, 1977 – previously unreleased) 3.37
5. SUN RA AND HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA – PLANET EARTH 4.55
6. SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – THE NILE 4.55
7. SUN RA AND HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA – REFLECTS MOTION (Part 1 – previously unreleased) 3.21
8. SUN RA AND HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA – REFLECTS MOTION (Part 2) 8.09
9. SUN RA – ANCIENT AIETHIOPIA 9.15
10. SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – INTERPLANETARY MUSIC 2.40
11. SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS 3.21
Where do you start with Sun Ra? He was one of the most prolific composers in jazz; his discography is not just vast, it is complex and multifaceted. You can follow Count Basie's music right across the years and it is like following a well-defined path. With Sun Ra you are in a jungle: with thickets, pools, clearings, complete wildness, impenetrability and, over laying it all, a quirky mythology. The planetary mystique probably led to his not being taken seriously for many years as he built up a library of superb, idiosyncratic music, completely unlike anything else in jazz.
Marshall Allen who has led the band since Sun Ra's death has created a compilation on 2 CDs of Ra's work that is eminently suitable for those new to this music. All the pieces have been re-mastered: sound is better than it has ever been. This not ‘a best of’ but a selection of music that explores Sun Ra's range.
‘Plutonium Nights’ features the tenor of John Gilmore who worked with Ra for many years. His playing on this piece is confident and assertive. He soars above the violent percussion on Reflects Motion (Part 2).Gilmore is probably the best known of the band members and although he spent most of working life with Sun Ra he found time to work with leaders such as Paul Bley and Art Blakey.
The flute and percussion driven 'Island in the Sun' has a sound and structure that us pure Ra. Percussion is blended successfully with electronics in ‘Interplanetary Music’. Electronics feature in 'Dance of the Cosmo Aliens' recorded on tour in Italy.
If you have little or no Sun Ra on your shelves this is a good place to start. The 16-page booklet accompanying the CDs includes photography from Val Wilmer, information on each track and where it originally appeared. The interview with leader Marshall Allen gives his insight and wisdom.
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
Stunt/Art Yard STRUT109
CD 1:
1. SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – SOMEWHERE IN SPACE 3.01
2. SUN RA & HIS SOLAR-MYTH ARKESTRA – THE LADY WITH THE GOLDEN STOCKINGS 7.43
3. SUN RA AND HIS AFRO INFINITY ARKESTRA – SOMEBODY ELSE’S WORLD 3.59
4. SUN RA – SPONTANEOUS SIMPLICITY 7.54
5. SUN RA & HIS SOLAR-MYTH ARKESTRA – PLUTONIAN NIGHTS 4.20
6. THE SUN RA ARKESTRA – ANGELS AND DEMONS AT PLAY 2.51
7. SUN RA – ISLAND IN THE SUN (Extended version – previously unreleased) 10.20
8. SUN RA – ROCKET NUMBER NINE TAKE OFF FOR PLANET VENUS 6.18
9. SUN RA – SOLAR DIFFERENTIALS 6.20
CD 2:
1. SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – ASTRO BLACK 10.51
2. SUN RA AND HIS INTERGALACTIC INFINITY ARKESTRA – HAVE YOU HEARD THE LATEST NEWS FROM NEPTUNE 5.51
3. SUN RA – DANCE OF THE COSMO ALIENS (Live In Milan, 1978) 11.00
4. SUN RA – TRYING TO PUT THE BLAME ON ME (Live In Rome, 1977 – previously unreleased) 3.37
5. SUN RA AND HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA – PLANET EARTH 4.55
6. SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – THE NILE 4.55
7. SUN RA AND HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA – REFLECTS MOTION (Part 1 – previously unreleased) 3.21
8. SUN RA AND HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA – REFLECTS MOTION (Part 2) 8.09
9. SUN RA – ANCIENT AIETHIOPIA 9.15
10. SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA – INTERPLANETARY MUSIC 2.40
11. SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA – WE TRAVEL THE SPACEWAYS 3.21
Where do you start with Sun Ra? He was one of the most prolific composers in jazz; his discography is not just vast, it is complex and multifaceted. You can follow Count Basie's music right across the years and it is like following a well-defined path. With Sun Ra you are in a jungle: with thickets, pools, clearings, complete wildness, impenetrability and, over laying it all, a quirky mythology. The planetary mystique probably led to his not being taken seriously for many years as he built up a library of superb, idiosyncratic music, completely unlike anything else in jazz.
Marshall Allen who has led the band since Sun Ra's death has created a compilation on 2 CDs of Ra's work that is eminently suitable for those new to this music. All the pieces have been re-mastered: sound is better than it has ever been. This not ‘a best of’ but a selection of music that explores Sun Ra's range.
‘Plutonium Nights’ features the tenor of John Gilmore who worked with Ra for many years. His playing on this piece is confident and assertive. He soars above the violent percussion on Reflects Motion (Part 2).Gilmore is probably the best known of the band members and although he spent most of working life with Sun Ra he found time to work with leaders such as Paul Bley and Art Blakey.
The flute and percussion driven 'Island in the Sun' has a sound and structure that us pure Ra. Percussion is blended successfully with electronics in ‘Interplanetary Music’. Electronics feature in 'Dance of the Cosmo Aliens' recorded on tour in Italy.
If you have little or no Sun Ra on your shelves this is a good place to start. The 16-page booklet accompanying the CDs includes photography from Val Wilmer, information on each track and where it originally appeared. The interview with leader Marshall Allen gives his insight and wisdom.
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
