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

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 - 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