Sun Ra - Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy/Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow (1961)

This twofer combines two early-1960s releases from the period when Sun Ra was just starting to get truly cosmic. Certainly he'd utilized celestial themes in his work before this, but on these albums, Sun Ra & his Arkestra actively pursue their idea of what outer space actually sounds like. Breaking with the more (relatively) traditional aspects of his earlier albums, Ra begins to focus on sound as an end in itself; Ra's right-hand man John Gilmore explores all the sonic possibilities of the saxophone, while Ra's organ whirls into otherworldly dimensions; the whole ensemble heads in a direction far more "out" than anything even the most forward-looking jazz artists were thinking of in the early '60s. COSMIC TONES and ART FORMS are avant-garde, downright psychedelic, and way ahead of their time.

Recorded in New York, New York between 1961 and 1963.Rolling Stone (3/4/93, p.64) - 5 Stars - Classic - "...the music that paved the way for acid rock..."
Spin (2/93, p.78) - "...like an Egyptian sci-fi soundtrack recorded on Mars...contains some of the greatest woodwind playing ever heard..."
Down Beat (5/93, p.36) - 5 Stars - Excellent - "...schizophrenically alternate[s] Edgard Varese-like percussive workouts and ethereal horn arrangements....Ra's Hammond organ grinds lunar funk..."
Musician (4/93, p.84) - "...Note the polyrhythmic ruminations foreshadowing the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Marvel at the spacey electric textures and far-out echo effects anticipating Pink Floyd at their druggiest....after 30 years it still sounds like an intriguing tomorrow..."

01.And Otherness
02.Thither and Yon
03.Adventure-Equation
04.Moon Dance
05.Voice of Space
06.Cluster of Galaxies
07.Ankh
08.Solar Drums
09.Outer Heavens, The
10.Infinity of the Universe
11.Lights on a Satellite
12.Kosmos in Blue.

COSMIC TONES FOR MENTAL THERAPY: Sun Ra (Clavioline, drums, organ), Danny Davis (alto saxophone, flute), Marshall Allen (alto saxophone, oboe, drums), John Gilmore (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, drums), Pat Patrick (baritone saxophone, flute),James Jackson (flute, log drums), Robert Cummings (bass clarinet), Ronnie Boykins (bass), Clifford Jarvis (drums, percussion), Thomas Hunter (percussion).

ART FORMS OF DIMENSIONS TOMORROW: Sun Ra (piano, keyboards, drums, percussion), Marshall Allen (alto saxophone, bells, sticks, drums), John Gilmore (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, drums), Pat Patrick (baritone saxophone), Clifford Thornton, Manny Smith (trumpets), Ali Hassan (trombone), Ronnie Boykins, John Ore (bass), Clifford Jarvis, C. Scoby Stroman, Thomas Hunter (drums).

Sun Ra - Astro Black (1973)

1.Astro Black
2.Discipline
3.Hidden Spheres
4.The Cosmo-Fire.

One of a handful of albums Sun Ra released on Impulse in the early '70s, Astro-Black provides a reasonably comprehensive picture of where the Arkestra was around the time, drawing to the end of their ultra-free period and beginning to investigate some traditional jazz forms. The opening title track explores some of Ra's spacier side, sounding a bit like a calmer alternative to his well-known "Space Is the Place" with June Tyson's ethereal vocals and the leader's ghostly synthesizer. "Discipline '99'" is a relaxed, bluesy number, although, as was often the case, one could argue that the band is a bit too relaxed and the piece does plod a little. But this is followed by a lively African-percussion-driven work, "Hidden Spheres," which, along with the propulsion provided by the great, underappreciated bassist Ronnie Boykins, is a fine example of Ra's band at their most enjoyable. "The Cosmo-Fire," the 18-minute track that closes the album, is a sprawling affair, a smorgasbord of Arkestra once again held in place by Boykins' bass, serving as a solid stem off of which Sun Ra launches abstract organ and vibraphone explorations and the rest of the band wails and sputters. Again, the performance is loose, but in a way that enhances the otherworldly effect that Ra strove for. Astro-Black isn't by any means the finest work by this musician, but is a decent introduction to his unique sound world. ~ Brian Olewnick, All Music Guide.

Bass: Ronnie Boykins
Clarinet (bass): Eloe Omoe
Clarinet (mistro): Pat Patrick
Congas: Atakatun, Chiea, Odun
Electronic Keyboards, Moog Synthesizers, Electro Vibraphone: Sun Ra
Percussions: Tommy Hunter, John Gilmore
Sax (alto): Danny Davis, Marshall Allen
Sax (baritone): Danny Thompson
Sax (tenor): John Gilmore
Trombone: Charles Stephens
Trumpet: Akh Tal Ebah, Lamont McClamb
Violin and Viola: Alzo Wright
Vocals: June Tyson, Ruth Wright.

Sun Ra Arkestra - Jazz in Silhouette (1958)

1.Enlightenment
2.Saturn
3.Velvet
4.Ancient Aiethopia
5.Hours After
6.Horoscope
7.Images
8.Blues at Midnight.


Sun Ra - Piano
John Gilmore - Sax (Tenor)
Marshall Allen - Flute, Sax (Alto)
Charles Davis - Sax (Baritone)
Hobart Dotson - Trumpet
Pat Patrick - Flute, Sax (Baritone)
Julian Priester - Trombone
James Spaulding - Flute, Sax (Alto)
Ronnie Boykins - Bass
William "Bugs" Cochran - Drums.

Throughout their mid-to-late-'50s stay in Chicago, Sun Ra (piano) and his Arkestra established themselves as formidable purveyors of a new strain or sub-genre of jazz. Having evolved from elaborate reworkings of familiar standards, Jazz in Silhouette (1959) presents a collection of originals, building upon Ra's abilities as a consummate multi-tasker — writing, arranging, scoring parts for his band, in addition to performing. He stretches the boundaries of the music to suit the Arkestra, simultaneously progressing his distinct sound. Seminal readings of the quick and complex "Saturn" and "Velvet" are offered with unmatchable dexterity and precision. The latter title comes off like a confused version of "Jeepers Creepers" as Hobart Dotson (trumpet) prominently displays his unquestionable tonality. "Ancient Aiethopia" is one of the more involved works, both in terms of length — running over nine minutes — and the Arkestra's capacity for Ra's compositions. "Blues at Midnight" is another expansive (nearly 12 minutes) outing that, by contrast, is for the soloists rather than full ensemble. John Gilmore (tenor sax), Ronnie Boykins (bass), Pat Patrick (baritone sax), and Marshall Allen (alto sax) all shine behind William Cochran's (drums) solid contributions. Equally significant is the running dialogue Ra maintains during other musicians' leads, directing the ebb and flow with an uncanny fusion of melody and rhythm. Undoubtedly, this is a factor in the freshness the material retains. It is also a prime example of Ra and company in a transitional phase, prior to their full-fledged explorations into the avant-garde.

"Hours After"

Sun Ra

Sun Ra - The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra (1961)

01. Bassism
02. Of Sounds and Something Else
03. What's That?
04. Where Is Tomorrow?
05. The Beginning
06. China Gates
07. New Day
08. Tapestry from an Asteroid
09. Jet Flight
10. Looking Outward
11. Space Jazz Reverie.

Sun Ra - Piano
Ricky Murray - Vocals
John Gilmore - Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Tenor), Bells
Marshall Allen - Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Bells
Pat Patrick - Sax (Baritone), Bells
Bernard McKinney - Trombone, Euphonium, Bells
Ronnie Boykins - Bass, Bells, Double Bass
Willie Jones - Percussion, Drums.