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2LP
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IOR 771581LP
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"As if from the farthest reaches of space, a tremendous positive energy has come via Light on a Satellite: It is Sun Ra's music, played by his Arkestra, more than 30 years after the legendary band founder's earthly demise -- or, in other words, after his reported ascent to Saturn. Under the direction of Marshall Allen, the NEA Jazz Master (2025) and multi-instrumentalist, who celebrated his 100th birthday on May 25, 2024, Sun Ra's big band has arrived safely in the 21st century, after traveling Sun Ra's space ways for almost 70 years. This album pays tribute to the lifetime achievement of Marshall Allen, who has led the Sun Ra Arkestra since 1993. Recorded in Studio A at New York's Power Station on June 16, 2024, the album celebrates the mastery of the exceptional musician Marshall Allen as a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, bandleader, teacher, and guardian of Sun Ra's unique legacy. Perhaps this day will one day become part of the collective jazz memory, for here is a simultaneity of the non-simultaneous, projected into the future, a time machine traveling through 100 years of jazz, out of the free approach of the Sun Ra Arkestra and in its signature groove right into the heart of swing -- with a century-old jazz master as captain. That in itself is a superlative. As a tribute to the life's work of Marshall Allen, Frank Kleinschmidt of IN+OUT Records invited the Sun Ra Arkestra into the studio with 24 musicians in the largest possible line-up, with the goal of documenting the music in its polyphony and expansion in space and time in the best possible way. It is not only the variety of instruments used, but also the fact that musicians from four generations come together with a repertoire that spans 100 years of jazz history."
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2LP
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IOR 771221LP
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"Forever alterable, young again & freshly strengthened, the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen presents itself on Live at the Babylon the 14-piece Centennial Dream Arkestra at Istanbul's Babylon music club. It is a landing to the spot on the hundredth birthday of its founder, Jack-of-all-trades Sun Ra, kicking off the jubilee tour 2014, which led the band around the globe. The ensemble sparks with a briskness that is testimony to the timelessness and infinity of the mission. The jubilee-concert at the Babylon is an illustration of to the enthusiasm of the brothers Mehmet and Ahmet Uluğ. The tenacious Sun Ra fans indeed made it happen, to bring the Sun Ra Arkestra to Istanbul for the very first time on April 1990. Marshall Allen, Knoel Scott and Elson Nascimento are the eyewitnesses within the Arkestra, who extend the grand moment of Istanbul into this truly amazing recording. Attracted by rhythm layers which reach into each other, the listener gets into the musical cosmos in a quite gentle way, as if sleepwalking. The pieces build upon each other and grow into each other. Microton-sequences oscillate across the entire interplay of compositions, they emerge and dive, change perpetually, as if the tones were alchemical ingredients of a lively and ever more self-generating primeval soup. The merit goes to Marshall Allen, who is tirelessly evaluating and interpreting the immeasurable treasure of the tone-documents Sun Ra left behind. These recordings stem from the never-ending rehearsals in Sun Ra's headquarter, and their musical treasure has never before been unveiled in front of an audience, and also never before been recorded with decent quality. Being reconstructed from the original, compositions such as 'Ra #2' and 'Carefree #2' experience a splendid resurrection, be it in the live concert or on the recording Live at the Babylon. It is a sensation. It is Sun Ra rediscovered."
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CD
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IO 77122CD
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2015 release. "Forever alterable, young again and freshly strengthened, the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen presents itself on Live at the Babylon the 14-piece Centennial Dream Arkestra at Istanbul's Babylon music club. It is a landing to the spot on the hundredth birthday of its founder, jack-of-all-trades Sun Ra, kicking off the jubilee tour 2014, which led the band around the globe. The ensemble sparks off with a briskness that is testimony to the timelessness and infinity of the mission. 100 Years of Sun Ra, 90 Years Sun Ra. The Arkestra performing with an all-star lineup up of Sun Ra alumnis. Istanbul's hot spot, The Babylon Club, supplied the perfect landing field for this intergalactic Space ship. Sun Ra's spirit can be felt every moment."
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CD
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IO 77098CD
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2010 release. "For 55 years, the Sun Ra Arkestra has imperturbably maintained the grand tradition of the legendary big bands of the swing era. But the star-studded cast of the fourteen-piece orchestra is also ready to blast off any time to any sphere of sound, true to their motto 'space is the place'. The Sun Ra Arkestra's steadfast spirit of freedom and creativity, its innovative strength and exuberant enthusiasm inspired about 3,000 listeners at the ZXZW festival in Tilburg, the Netherlands. As 'Artists in Residence', the Arkestra performed on five evenings at the Paradox Music Club from September 15th to 20th. Each of these concerts appeared to be a Big Bang. Live at the Paradox was recorded on the very last evening of this memorable concert series, combining jazz history and immortal myth. Founded in 1954 by piano genius, master composer, arranger and mystic visionary Sun Ra, the Sun Ra Arkestra continues to be an important stimulus and source of inspiration."
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2LP
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LQ 009LP
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It was one of the most peculiar landings of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Time: December 7, 1986, Polish People's Republic, still separated from the West by the Iron Curtain. It's a grey and poor twilight of a real socialism era. In three years, the Eastern Bloc would collapse, but what still occupies the minds of Poles now is mostly the martial law imposed by the Pro-Moscow regime in 1981, when the country wanted to free itself from the influence of the Soviet Union. Place: Kalisz, one of the oldest Polish cities dating back to the 10th century, historically connected with the first kings of Poland, grew into a multinational centre with time as not only the Czech Brethren escaping the Habsburg monarchy found refuge here, but also prominent rabbis known across Europe used to operate and expound in the local Jewish community. In the 20th century Kalisz became a provincial city and its presence in the cultural life of Poland was most significantly marked with the International Jazz Piano Festival. It was during the 13th edition of the festival that Sun Ra Arkestra performed. What turned out to be most memorable for the concert-goers was the closing procession of musicians who left the stage to walk around the audience, circle the venue, and return. Researchers of the Sun Ra mysticism recognized such gestures as rituals of passage corresponding to the cosmic cycles of death and resurrection. From a European perspective, Sun Ra's work turns out to be a dream come true for Wagner and Stockhausen. His music brought the myth to life. The myth connecting the past with the future 00 above the unfavorable present -- which created a sphere of freedom. However, Ra used to say that it was not freedom that was at stake here, but precision and discipline.
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4LP BOX
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TROST 118LP
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2022 restock, last copies... 4LP box set version. The great Sun Ra Arkestra, live at Jazzgalerie Nickelsdorf, Austria on March 11th, 1984. This is a recording of the entire -- nearly three hour -- performance. Personnel for this show was Sun Ra (piano, synth, vocals); John Gilmore (tenor saxophone, clarinet, evi, vocals); Marshall Allen (alto saxophone, flute, kora, percussion); Danny Ray Thompson (baritone saxophone, flute, percussion); Eloe Omoe (Leroy Taylor) (alto saxophone, bass clarinet, percussion); James Jackson (basoon, flute, drums, vocals); Ronnie Brown (trumpet); Rollo Radford (standup bass); Don Mumford (drums); Matthew Brown (congas, dance); Myriam Broche (dance); Greg Pratt (dance). Vinyl box limited to 1,000 copies.
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3CD
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TROST 118CD
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The great Sun Ra Arkestra, live at Jazzgalerie Nickelsdorf, Austria on March 11th, 1984. This is a recording of the entire -- nearly three hour -- performance. Personnel for this show was Sun Ra (piano, synth, vocals); John Gilmore (tenor saxophone, clarinet, evi, vocals); Marshall Allen (alto saxophone, flute, kora, percussion); Danny Ray Thompson (baritone saxophone, flute, percussion); Eloe Omoe (Leroy Taylor) (alto saxophone, bass clarinet, percussion); James Jackson (basoon, flute, drums, vocals); Ronnie Brown (trumpet); Rollo Radford (standup bass); Don Mumford (drums); Matthew Brown (congas, dance); Myriam Broche (dance); Greg Pratt (dance).
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CD
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RER SR1
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"Recorded live in 1984 at one of Sun Ra's many American concerts, Cosmo Sun Connection captures the Arkestra in full big band mode, blowing up a storm that could probably be heard on Venus. The original vinyl LP was released by Recommended in 1985 via an agreement with Sun Ra's Saturn label. Long deleted, this is now the first time that it has surface on CD."
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