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Sun Ra

Author and critic Brian Morton joins Alyn Shipton to select the essential examples of bandleader Sun Ra's work.

Author and critic Brian Morton joins Alyn Shipton to select the essential examples of bandleader Sun Ra's work.

Born Herman Blount, he was as famous for his exotic headgear and claims that his inspiration and music came from outer space, as his band The Arkestra. Yet beneath the exotic image, Ra was a highly creative musician, redefining the structure and sound of the jazz big band.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 19 Oct 2008 00:00

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Music Played

  • Sun Ra

    Space is the Place / We Travel The Spaceways

    Composer: Sun Ra Performers: Sun Ra (kb, voc); Ronnie Brown (t); Marshall Allen, Eloe Omoe, John Gilmore, Danny Ray Thompson, James Jacson (reeds); Rollo Redford (b); Don Mamford (d); Salah Rageb (perc). Orpheus Theatre, Athens, 27 Feb 1984

    • Live at Praxis 84.
    • Leo.
    • GY 5/6 CD 1 Track 7.
  • Fletcher Henderson

    Queer Notions

    Composer: Coleman Hawkins Performers: Russell Smith, Bobby Stark, Red Allen, t; Sandy Williams, Dicky Wells, tb; Russell Procope, Hilton Jefferson, Coleman Hawkins, reeds; Horace Henderson, p; Bernard Addison, g; John Kirby, b; Walter Johnson, d. Rec: 18 Aug 1933

    • Memorable Recordings.
    • Topaz Number 1035 Track 5.
  • Sun Ra

    Queer Notions

    Composer: Coleman Hawkins Performers: Sun Ra (kb); Michael Ray, Eddie Gale, Walter Miller (t); Marshall Allen, Eloe Omoe, Danny Davis, John Gilmore, Danny Ray Thompson, James Jacson (reeds); Damon Choice (vib); Dale Williams (bg); Luqman Ali (d); Atakatune (perc). Chicago, 25 Sep 1978

    • Springtime In Chicago.
    • Leo Number GY 24/27 CD 1 Track 8.
  • Sun Ra

    Honeysuckle Rose

    Composer: Waller / Razaf Performers: Sun Ra solo piano. 3 July 1977

    • St Louis Blues.
    • IAI.
    • 123858-2 Track 4.
  • Sun Ra

    Call For All Demons

    Composer: Sun Ra Performers: Personnel: Sun Ra (kb); Art Hoyle, Dave Young (t); Julian Priester (tb); James Scales, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick(reeds); Wilber Green (elb); Richard Evans (b); Robert Barry (d); Jim Herndon (timp). Chicago 1957

    • Sun Song.
    • Delmark.
    • DD411 Track 2.
  • Sun Ra

    El is a Sound of Joy

    Composer: Sun Ra Performers: Sun Ra (kb); Art Hoyle, Dave Young (t); Julian Priester (tb); Charles Davis, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick(reeds); Victor Sproles (b); William Cochrane (d); Jim Herndon (timp). Chicago November 1957

    • Sound of Joy.
    • Delmark Number DD 414 Track 1.
  • Sun Ra

    Saturn

    Composer: Sun Ra Performers: Sun Ra (kb); Hobart Dotson (t); Julian Priester (tb); James Spaulding, Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, Charles Davis (reeds); Ronnie Boykins (b); William Cochrane (d); Jim Herndon (timp). Chicago 1958

    • Jazz In Silhouette.
    • Evidence.
    • ECD 22012-2 Track 2.
  • Sun Ra

    Magic City

    Composer: Sun Ra Performers: Sun Ra (kb); Walter Miller (t); Ali Hassan (tb); Marshall Allen, Danny Davis, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, Robert Cummings (reeds); Ronnie Boykins (b); Roger Blank (d); James Jacson (perc). NYC 24 Sept 1965

    • Magic City.
    • Evidence.
    • ECD 22069 Track 1.
  • Sun Ra

    Of Heavenly Things

    Composer: Sun Ra Performers: Sun Ra (kb); Chris Capers (t); Teddy Nance (tb); Bernard Pettaway (btb); Marshal Allen, Danny Davis, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick(reeds/percussion); Ronnie Boykins (b); Jimhmi Johnson (perc); Robert Cummings (bcl / woodblock). NYC 20 April 1965

    • Heliocentric Worlds Vol. 1.
    • ESP.
    • 1014 Track 5.
  • Sun Ra

    Satin Doll

    Composer: Ellington / Strayhorn Performers: Sun Ra (kb, voc); Ronnie Brown (t); Marshall Allen, Eloe Omoe, John Gilmore, Danny Ray Thompson, James Jacson (reeds); Rollo Redford (b); Don Mamford (d); Salah Rageb (perc). Orpheus Theatre, Athens, 27 Feb 1984

    • Live at Praxis '84.
    • Leo.
    • GY 5/6 CD 2 Track 4.
  • Sun Ra

    Zip a Dee Doo Dah

    Composer: Allie / Wrubel / Gilbert Performers: Sun Ra (kb, voc); June Tyson, (voc/vln); Michael Ray (t); Julian Priester, Tyrone Hill (tb); Marshall Allen, Eloe Omoe, Noel Scott, James Jackson (reeds); Bruce Edwards (g); Arthur Junie Booth(elb); Earl Buster Smith (d); Nelson Nascimento Santos (perc). 29 April 1989 Ulrichsberg.

    • Second Star To The Right.
    • Leo.
    • LR 230 Track 5.
  • Sun Ra

    Blues at Midnight

    Composer: Sun Ra Performers: Sun Ra (kb); Hobart Dotson (t); Julian Priester (tb); James Spaulding, Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, Charles Davis (reeds); Ronnie Boykins (b); William Cochrane (d); Jim Herndon (timp). Chicago 1958

    • Jazz In Silhouette.
    • Evidence.
    • 220122 Track 8.
  • Untitled

    Overall recommendation Jazz In Silhouette (Evidence)

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  • Sun 19 Oct 2008 00:00

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