Thursday, May 22, 2014

Sun Ra And His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra-Journey Stars Beyond (Saturn 1981)
























Today is Sun Ra's 100th birthday.

Here is another of the Saturn Records which Ra and the Arkestra released independently.
These records are very often entirely unique, with the hand-made artwork sometimes being silk-screened stickers, sometimes magic-marker scribbles, and sometimes both or neither.
This one, as you can see, has magic-marker scribbles on the front cover and on one side of the l.p. center label, which I have presumed is side one.
Both center labels bear the suffix "b" after the serial number, which is almost certainly* the recording date: 72881- July 28th, 1981.
 

On the one occasion when I met Sun Ra, I brought this and my other two Saturn Records (and a postcard of Saturn) and asked him to sign them.
He said "These record covers are meant to be looked at under different colored lights" just as I was pulling out a bunch of different colored large-tipped felt markers, so I said "choose your colors, then".
Thus the very pale blue signature on the back: Le Sun Ra.
(These, along with a signed copy of The Residents' "Mark Of The Mole" are among my most treasured records- not for sale at any price).


























Anyway- I have not split the tracks on this record, which alternate between solo synthesizer improvisations and duos with trombone or trumpet, and (on side two) an extended solo with a brief Arkestra explosion as well as an hilarious moment of commentary on Ra's excursions by (I think) John Gilmore and the rest of the band.

From what I can glean from info about the cd release of (among other concurrent work) side two of this l.p. by the Art Yard label, the personnel

(not all of whom are heard on this l.p) is:

Sun Ra And His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra:

Sun Ra { synth, organ, vocals }
John Gilmore { tenor sax, percussion, vocals }
Marshall Allen { alto sax, percussion }
Michael Ray { trumpet, vocals }
Danny Thompson { baritone sax, flute, percussion }
Noel Scott { alto sax, vocals }
June Tyson { vocals }
Tyrone Hill { trombone, vocals }
Eloe Omoe { bass clarinet }
Craig Harris  { drums }
Tommy “Bugs” Hunter { drums }
Al Evans { flugelhorn }
Jaribu Shahid { bass }
Samarai Celestial  { drums }
Vincent Chancey { french horn }
Francisco “Ali” Mora { drums, percussion }
Tani Tabbal { drums, percussion }
Bright Moments { congas }
The Bell Brothers { bells }
John Ore { bass }
James Jacson { vocals,  Ancient Egyptian
Infinity Lightning Drum }

Recorded at the Detroit Jazz Center**

(*note: It may be the production or release date and not the recording date-info on this and similar matters is often sketchy or downright contradictory.)

(**The date problem makes this uncertain.)


Put on your Outer-Space
flac
jacket!

16 comments:

  1. Thank you, Dr E! You've been on my mind recently - I trust the concert went well. I love this album - pulled it out over the weekend and played it through twice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Yotte-Thanks for thinking of me.Yes, the concert went very well and Marshall and Danny were very nice.Marshall is turning 90 this Sunday!
      I'll tell more later.

      Delete
  2. What a fantastic birthday present! My favorite part: "What was that?!?" Still not sure.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. rev.b- Glad you enjoy it! Yes, that part cracks me up.

      Delete
  3. Thanks you for the great story, sets up this recording for me to listen to in a new light. Pun sort of intended...thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Don- You're welcome!

      For my best Sun Ra story, click the Sun Ra label at the bottom of this post and read the text for the post called "Horizon".

      Delete
  4. A very nice surprise for me. Thank DrEyescope.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you so much for posting this, DrI. I just got here for the first time and I'm already enjoying great new stuff! Thanks again.

    Tom in SFCA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom-
      You are most welcome.
      Follow your ears and enjoy your visit!

      Delete
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