Sun Ra
Lights on a Satellite Live at the Left Bank
(Resonance Records)
Experimental jazz composer, Arkestra big band leader and alien from Saturn, sent to earth on mission to preach peace, may have been dead these 31 years but his legend very much lives on. Not least on November 29, Record Store Day, which saw the release of a double LP of a concert given for the Left Bank Jazz Society at the Famous Ballroom, Baltimore, July 23 1978, where he was billed as Sun Ra and his Myth Science Cosmo Swing Arkestra. It also comes out on CD on 6th December. Both versions come packaged with the obligatory critical essay, reminiscences from band members and others present on the nigh, and plenty of images.The recently unearthed recordings are augmented with two tracks culled from the concert filmed for the 1980 film Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise .The 16 track double LP finds the Arkestra in blistering form and tackling a repertoire ranging from Sun Ra's own space jazz through standards from the 30s through to the 50s. There are foot-to-floor renditions of Fletcher Henderson's "Yeah man" and "Big John Special" and Tad Dameron's "Lady Bird", and typically off-kilter takes on "Cocktails for Two" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". Not to mention a growling, Hammond heavy, sax driven attack on "Round Midnight".
Standout track though has to be the coruscating run through of the Arkestra's own "Images in a Mirror". Albeit closely followed by an extended 12 minute version of "Tapestry From an Asteroid" which starts in familiar fashion with crooning from an unnamed female vocalist (June Tyson?), before veering off out into what can only be described as inter-galactic musical space. Not to say also a tender, piano and sax led take on the set's title track "Lights on a Satellite".
All in all "Lights on a Satellite" is a valuable addition to the already extensive Sun Ra discography. One that should satisfy existing followers, but is accessible enough to appeal to those yet to have been wooed by his eccentric, avante-garde, afrofuturistic, and highly individual oeuvre. Their leader may have long left the planet but the Arkestra lives on, currently led by its long time sax player Marshall Allen who at 100 years old (yes you just read that correctly) has to be the old musician in any genre still touring.
Live dates currently confirmed are:
Thu Jan 30th. Princeton, NJ Berlind Theatre
Sat March 8th. Meredith, Victoria, Australia Golden Plains Festival
March 27th.- 30th Knoxville, TN Big Ears Festival with Yo La Tengo
Essential Information
Images sent by BKMusicPR
Main image by Alan Nahigian
Lower image by Robert Mugge
