Sun Ra Arkestra - Face the Music / Space is the Place

Sun Ra - All Stars in Berlin (1983)

Tracks:
01 - Announcement Michael Naura
02 - Happy Birthday / Stars That Shine Darkly
03 - Title
04 - Somewhere Else
05 - Early Morning Blues
06 - Poinciana
Line-up:
Sun Ra - keyboardsDon Cherry - trumpet, vocal
Lester Bowie - trumpet
Marshall Allen - alto sax, percussion
John Gilmore - tenor sax, flute
Archie Shepp - tenor sax, vocals
Richard Davis - bass
Clifford Jarvis - drums
Philly Joe Jones - drums
Famoudou Don Moye - percussion

John Gilmore and The Jazz Messengers - I Can't Get Started (1966)

Paul Bley - Turning Point (1964)

When this album was released in 1975 by Paul Bley's Improvising Artists label, the seven selections had been previously unheard. The five pieces from Mar. 9, 1964 (which feature pianist Bley, tenor-saxophonist John Gilmore, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Paul Motian) were later released in a more complete form on the Savoy LP Turns. This was a unique onetime encounter between the innovative Bley (whose lyrical approach to free form improvising was quite different than that used by the high-energy players of the time) and Sun Ra's longtime tenor John Gilmore; "Ida Lupino" is the most memorable of these tracks. In addition there are a couple of trio performances ("Mr. Joy" and "Kid Dynamite") from a May 10, 1964 concert with bassist Peacock and drummer Billy Elgart that have not been released elsewhere. Very interesting if not quite essential music.

by Scott Yanow in All Music Guide

Styles:
Avant-Garde
Free-Jazz

Tracks:
01 - Calls (06:10)
02 - Turning (06:30)
03 - King Korn (06:00)
04 - Ictus (04:05)
05 - Mr Joy (03:50)
06 - Kid Dynamite (03:40)
07 - Ida Lupino (06:33)

Line-up:
Paul Bley - Piano
Gary Peacock - Bass
John Gilmore - Saxophone [Tenor]
Paul Motian (tracks: 1 to 4, 7) - Drums
Billy Elgart (tracks: 5, 6) - Drums

Clifford Jordan - Blowing in from Chicago (1957)

BLOWING IN FROM CHICAGO features tenor saxophonist John Gilmore as a co-leader. After this 1957 session, he spent the rest of his career in Sun Ra's band, hardly ever making any albums under his own name. This adversely affected Gilmore's legacy, since his name has largely been overlooked by younger jazz audiences. However, Gilmore's performance here is first-rate, and is matched by fellow tenor sax player Clifford Jordan. Throughout the record, it's apparent that this pairing of like minds is ideal.
Drummer Art Blakey also asserts himself on this album, especially on the highly rhythmic "Billie's Bounce," a Charlie Parker tune he popularized with the Jazz Messengers. The Latin-flavored Jordan original "Bo-Till" is one of BLOWING IN FROM CHICAGO'S highlights, as is his funky blues number "Evil Eye." This is classic hard bop played by some of its most skillful practitioners.
Clifford Jordan's first date as a leader actually found him sharing a heated jam session with fellow tenor John Gilmore. Backed by pianist Horace Silver, bassist Curly Russell, and drummer Art Blakey, the two saxophonists square off mostly on obscurities (other than Gigi Gryce's "Blue Lights" and "Billie's Bounce"). This was one of Gilmore's few sessions outside of Sun Ra's orbit and, if anything, he slightly overshadows the cooler-toned Jordan. Recommended.

by Scott Yanow in All Music Guide

Styles:
Hard-Bop
Post-Bop

Tracks:
01 - Status Quo (5:34)
02 - Bo-Till (5:54)
03 - Blue Lights (6:35)
04 - Billie's Bounce (9:32)
05 - Evil Eye (5:12)
06 - Everywhere (5:42)
07 - Let It Stand (7:42)

Line-up:
Clifford Jordan - Tenor Sax
Curly Russell - Bass
Art Blakey - Drums
Horace Silver - Piano
John Gilmore - Tenor Sax

Sun Ra - Nuclear War (1984)

Along with Lanquidity, Nuclear War is one of the rarest discs in Sun Ra's enormous catalog. Recorded in 1982, Nuclear War disappeared until 2001 when the Chicago-based Atavistic label made it part of their exceptional "Unheard Music Series." Originally Ra was so sure the funky dance track was a hit, he immediately took it to Columbia Records, where they immediately rejected it. Why he thought a song with the repeating chant "Nuclear War, they're talking about Nuclear War/It's a motherf***er, don't you know/if they push that button, your ass gotta go/and whatcha gonna do without your ass" would be a hit is another puzzle in the Sun Ra myth. Even with the danceability factor, without heavy censoring, the song would never be played on the radio. Severely depressed by the rejection, but still determined, Ra licensed the track to Y Records, a post-punk label out of Britain. Initially a vinyl 12" was released with "Sometimes I'm Happy" on the flip side. Two years later, Nuclear War was released as an album, but only in Italy. The remaining tracks include four originals and three standards, Ellington's "Drop Me Off in Harlem," "Sometimes I'm Happy," and "Smile." The latter two are highlights in their own right thanks to the gorgeous vocals of June Tyson.

by Al Campbell in All Music Guide

Styles:
Avant-Garde
Experimental Big Band
Fusion

Tracks:
01 - Nuclear War (07:47)
02 - Retrospect (05:43)
03 - Drop Me Off In Harlem (05:04)
04 - Sometimes I'm Happy (04:29)
05 - Celestial Love (05:36)
06 - Blue Intensity (05:18)
07 - Nameless One No. 2 (04:01)
08 - Smile (04:24)

Line-up:
Sun Ra - Piano, Synthesizer, Organ, Vocals
Hayes Burnett - Bass
James Jacson - Bassoon, Infinity Drum
Atakatune - Congas, Percussion
Samarai Celestial - Drums
Vincent Chancey - French Horn
Marshall Allen - Saxophone [Alto], Flute
Danny Ray Thompson - Saxophone [Baritone], Flute
John Gilmore - Saxophone [Tenor]
Tyron Hill - Trombone, Vocals
Walter Miller - Trumpet
Jun Tyson - Vocals

Sun Ra - Lanquidity (1978)

While one can't quite call it the Sun Ra dance album, this 1978 recording, made for a tiny Philadelphia record label, finds the Sun Ra Arkestra's rhythm section settling into a steady groove on each of the lengthy tracks, while horns, reeds, guitars, and Sun Ra's keyboards solo in overlapping patterns on top. The title number recalls Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" in its slow pace and elegiac tone, while the middle three tracks have livelier beats with playing that often answers to the style of fusion played by many jazz groups in the late '70s. "There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)," the nearly 11-minute concluding tune, is the closest to more familiar 1960s and early-'70s Sun Ra, with its less cohesive lead work and the "ethnic voices" that speak, sing, and whisper about outer space. Lanquidity was extremely rare in its original vinyl pressing. It was reissued by Evidence Music on September 26, 2000, with liner notes in which John Dilberto discussed Sun Ra's 25-year residence in Philadelphia and Tom Buchler, who organized the recording session, discussed the making of the album.

by William Ruhlmann in All Music Guide

Styles:
Experimental Big Band
Avant-Garde
Fusion
Free Jazz

Tracks:
01 - Lanquidity (08:21)
02 - Where Pathways Meet (06:32)
03 - That's How I Feel (08:05)
04 - Twin Stars of Thence (09:34)
05 - There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of) (10:57)

Line-up:
Sun Ra: Organ, Synthesizer, Piano, Arranger, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), Piano (Electric), Vocals, Bells, Producer, Arp, Fender Rhodes, Orchestra Bells, Mini Moog
John Gilmore: Sax (Tenor)
Danny Ray Thompson: Flute, Sax (Baritone)
Eddie Gale: Trumpet
Michael Ray: trumpet, flugelhorn
Marshall Allen: Flute, Oboe, Sax (Alto)
Luqman Ali: Percussion
Artaukatune: Drums,Tympan
Disco Kid: Guitar
Dale Williams: guitar
Atakatun Odun: Conga
Ego Omoe: Flute, Clarinet (Bass)
Julian Pressley: Sax (Baritone)
Richard Williams: bass
James Jackson: oboe, basson, flute, voices
June Tyson: voices

Sun Ra - The Magic City (1965)

The boundaries of Sun Ra's self-proclaimed "space jazz" underwent a transformation in the mid-'60s. The Magic City is an aural snapshot of that metamorphic process. Many enthusiasts and scholars consider this to be among Ra's most definitive studio recordings. Although the "city" in the album's title was thought to have been New York -- where the disc was recorded -- it is actually Ra's earthly birthplace of Birmingham, AL. The Magic City consists of four free jazz compositions: the album side-length title track, "The Shadow World," "Abstract Eye," and "Abstract I" -- two variants of a common work. These pieces are essentially ensemble improvisations recorded live. Any direction from Ra, indicating the order of soloists for instance, would be given either through his playing or with hand signals. Sun Ra & His Solar Myth Arkestra took up residency in Manhattan's East Village in the early to mid-'60s. Their neighbors included Pharaoh Sanders as well as Babatunde Olatunji. In fact, "The Shadow World," "Abstract Eye," and "Abstract I" were actually recorded in Olatunji's loft. The title track begins with weaving distant and frenetic lines from Ronnie Boykins (bass) and Ra (piano, clavoline), connected by intermittent eruptions from Roger Blank (drums). All the while, Marshall Allen's dreamlike piccolo randomly maneuvers through the sonic haze. The piece also contains an ensemble onslaught that abruptly contrasts with everything experienced up through that point. In the wake of the innately earthbound "Magic City" are three comparatively shorter pieces with subtle undercurrents that return Ra to space motifs. For example, the importance of sonic contrast defines "The Shadow World" by juxtaposing the lightly churning bass and cymbal into some surreal keyboard interjections from Ra. The Magic City also comes with an insightful liner notes essay from Ra scholar John F. Szwed, aiding in understanding the circumstances surrounding this piece of free jazz genius.

by Lindsay Planer in All Music Guide

Styles:
Experimental Big Band
Avant-Garde
Free-Jazz

Tracks:
01 - The Magic City (27:22)
02 - The Shadow World (10:55)
03 - Abstract Eye (2:51)
04 - Abstract "I" (4:08)

Line-up:
Sun Ra - piano, clavioline
Pat Patrick - baritone saxophone, flute, tympani
John Gilmore - tenor saxophone
Marshall Allen - alto saxophone, flute, oboe, piccolo
Danny Davis - alto saxophone, flute
Harry Spencer - alto saxophone
Robert Cummings - bass clarinet
Walter Miller - trumpet
Chris Capers - trumpet
Ali Hassan - trombone
Teddy Nance - trombone
Bernard Pettaway - trombone
Roger Blank - Percussion
Ronnie Boykins - bass
Jimhmi Johnson - Percussion

Sun Ra - Sleeping Beauty (1979)

This is the great late-night Sun Ra chillout album you never knew about. The band had been working in a more groove-oriented setting off and on for over a year, as evidenced by the albums Lanquidity and On Jupiter, with both featuring prominent electric bass and electric guitar. Sleeping Beauty picks up right where On Jupiter left off, with the gentle, swaying "Springtime Again" echoing the same mellow vibe of "Seductive Fantasy" from On Jupiter. A skittering intro coalesces as different instruments pick up bits of the melody, which is then fully expressed by the horn section and ensemble vocals. It's a simple two-chord vamp, with beautiful solos that seem to embody the reawakening and rebirth of springtime. "The Door of the Cosmos" starts with a gospel-like chant and handclaps, with comments from Ra's electric piano and electric guitar. A strong bassline enters, very reminiscent of "A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement," but the accompanying chant celebrates the mysteries of the unknown rather than the universal truth of A Love Supreme. This track builds in intensity, but never loses its groove or becomes nearly as raucous as the Arkestra is sometimes known for. "Sleeping Beauty" is the album centerpiece, taking up all of side two. Ra's beautiful electric piano gets things rolling, and the band falls into a peaceful groove before the vocals enter, led by the wonderful June Tyson. These songs are all built on the simplest of structures, and the playing from everyone is understated and sublime. Sleeping Beauty is truly a high point in an unwieldy discography, and something of an anomaly at the same time. There's a good reason copies of this album go for several hundred dollars on the collector's market, but it really deserves a proper release so more people can hear it. Outstanding.

by Sean Westergaard in All Music Guide

Styles:
Modern Big Band
Progressive Jazz
Post-Bop

Tracks:
01 - Springtime again (09:17)
02 - The Door of Cosmos (08:57)
03 - Sleeping Beauty (11:50)

Line-up:
Sun Ra - piano synth, organ, vocals
Michael Ray - trumpet, fludgehorn
Walter Miller - trumpet
Tony Bethel - tambourine
Marshall Allen - alto sax, flute
John Gilmore - tenor saxophone, percursion
Danny Ray Thompson - baritone sax, flute, percursion
Noel Scott - alto sax
June Tyson - vocals
Eloe Omoe - bass clarinet
Craig Harris - trombone
Tommy Hunter - drums
Al Evans - flugelhorn
Jarbu Shahid - bass
Samarai Celestial - drums
Vincent Chancey - french horn
Francisco Mora - percussion
Tani Tabbal - percussion
Bright Moments - congas
The Bell Brothers - bells
John Ore - bass
James Jackson - Ancient Egyptian Infinity Lightning Drum