Ratchet Orchestra with Marshall Allen and Danny Ray Thompson

As a small number of you out there know, I am a part-time musician.
Living where I do, I get the chance to play with some pretty incredible musicians, both those who live here and those who pass through.

I have been playing with the Ratchet Orchestra, an ever-changing monster led by Contrabassist Nicolas Caloia, for about 20 years now, and this past May 15 we were all honored to play with two long-standing members of the Sun Ra ("insert name here") Arkestra.

Marshall Allen has been playing with the Arkestra since 1958 (and leading it since the death of John Gilmore).
Danny Ray Thompson ("Pico" to his friends) has been a member since 1967.
These two fine gentlemen joined with the Ratchet Orchestra to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra's arrival on Planet Earth.

The music heard here is a sort of "Suite" arranged by Nicolas Caloia, comprised  almost exclusively of Sun Ra compositions, some heard in something like a standard presentation, while others have been fractured and overlayed with other themes and material and may be unrecognizable to all but the most ardent Sun Ra fanatics.

In any case, I believe that this is some very fine, exciting and beautiful music and deserves to be heard and (I hope) enjoyed by fans of Sun Ra and visitors to the Closet of Curiosities.

Marshall Allen and Danny Ray Thompson with Ratchet Orchestra
Festival International de Musique Actuelle, Victoriaville
May 15, 2014

THE BOARD MIX/ZOOM BOOTLEG

They Dwell on Other Planes/We Must Not Say No To Ourselves
Eve
Thither and Yon
Discipline No. 15
El Is A Sound of Joy
El Victor
Love on A Faraway Planet/Life is Splendid/Angels and Demons
The Shadow World
Fate in A Pleasant Mood/Life is Splendid/We'll Wait for You/Space is the Place

Marshall Allen :alto saxophone, evi, voice
Pico : flute
Lori Freedman : clarinets, wx7, voice
Ida Toninato : bassoon, baritone saxophone
Damian Nisenson : saxophones, shenai
Yves Charuest : alto saxophone
Jason Sharp : bass saxophone, flute
Ellwood Epps : trumpet
Scott Thomson : trombone
Jacques Gravel : bass trombone, tympani
Joshua Zubot : violin
Guido Del Fabbro : violin, recorder
James Annett : viola
Chris Burns : guitar, voice
Guillaume Dostaler : piano, JX3P
Ken Doolittle : percussion, voice
Michel Bonneau : percussion
John Heward : drums
Isaiah Ceccarelli : drums, tympani
Nicolas Caloia : doublebass, maxikorg, arrangements


Nic Caloia also has a site where you can download, stream and purchase other music and video (and etc) which you may very well also enjoy.
If you like this concert, visit his page
and go nuts.

 (Sorry, links removed.)

Sun Ra Arkestra- Media Dreams (Saturn Records,1978)

Sun Ra Arkestra- Media Dreams


Here's the last of my Saturn Records, which I am posting to celebrate the 90th birthday today of Marshall Allen, alto saxophonist and electronic wind instrument player, current leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra- still going strong!

On a personal note:
I had the opportunity to play with Marshall Allen on the 15th in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra's birth. Also in attendance was Danny Ray Thompson, playing flute on this occasion, and I had a very fine time, one high point being at the rehearsal where Marshall took the mic and a few of us had a sing-along, Arkestra-style, to the tune of Fate In A Pleasant Mood, which Marshall also seemed to enjoy very much.
 
Marshall has a penchant for saying things like- "You've gotta do what you can while you can with what you've got", and "You've got to take hold of this one life"; things you hear often enough nowadays.
But when you consider that, the day after playing this gig with the Ratchet Orchestra, Marshall and Danny were off to Italy, and from there all around Europe,to Turkey, Japan, Croatia, and all with only a day's rest here and there (see Sunraarkestra.com for the tour dates) you know this man LIVES by these words.I have little doubt that it is precisely this attitude which is at least partially responsible for his amazing energy and longevity.

I can only say "keep saying what you've got to say while you can say it" , and
"Happy Birthday, Marshall Allen!"

About the record:
This is a weird one,
MysterRa plays a keyboard with an "auto-arpeggio" feature (a2) and gets downright goofy with it, getting it to arpeggiate clusters and the like.
There is also some very celestial synthesizer work (a1,a3) and piano (b2) and a couple of fine solos from John Gilmore on Tenor (a2,b2) and Michael Ray on funky Trumpet (a2).
Altogether a very fine and varied record, from Bop and Ballad to the outer limits, and with good sound quality and presence.

Sun Ra Arkestra- Media Dreams

a1- Saturn Research (3:10)

a2- Constellation (13:52)

a3- Yera Of The Sun (4:39)

b1- Media Dreams (13:54)

b2- Twigs At Twilight (7:30)

b3- An Unknowneth Love (4:43)
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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!

Sun Ra - Journey Stars Beyond (Saturn 72881) 1981

 























 OK folks, get out your space-party hats- Today is Sun Ra's birthday.
Mystery Mister Ra was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1914.

This Saturn l.p: "Journey Stars Beyond" is (presumably-based on the catalogue number) from a July 28, 1981 concert and is also known as "Oblique Parallax"- both editions bearing the label no. SR 72881.

It comprises a few little synthesizer solos, a trombone/synthesizer duet with smatterings of percussion, a full-on Arkestra blowout, and an over-the-top Synthesizer solo which has the Arkestra asking "What WAS that??" and shouting with mock terror when Ra answers the questions with his palms, fists, and elbows: "Here it comes AGAIN!!!" You can just SEE Ra's enigmatic grin through the joyful noise.

This is the kind of Sun Ra record which reminds us of just how unique and irreplaceable Sun Ra was and is.
Our continuing consolation is the wonderful volume of recordings which he left behind.
The Saturn Records are a particularly unique and even precious treasure- with their hand-designed covers; all of them slightly or even wildly different, bearing the marks of the hands which so lovingly made them-   silkscreend stickers, magic-marker drawings and detailing, hand-cut center labels, and other wonderful "imperfections"; Beautiful.
(And, in the case of my own Saturn Records- with the signature of Le Sun Ra in colored hi-lighters on the front or back). If you're curious as to how or when I got the signatures, (it was probably autumn or winter, '88 or '89,) the details are in my previous Sun Ra post.       

 The Arkestra's current existence under the leadership of Marshall Allen serve as a reminder of his music's continued relevance and the undeniable influence Ra still has today on so many fine musicians.
I hope today will be a day of joyful remembering for all those who knew him and for those who didn't but love his music.

Now- Make a wish and BLOW!

 Sun Ra (and Arkestra) - Journey Stars Beyond (Saturn SR 72881) 1981

Side One:

Journey Stars Beyond a (12:53)

Side Two:

Journey Stars Beyond b (13:23)

Precise personel unknown.

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Sun Ra and his Arkestra-HORIZON (Saturn 121771) 1972

Sun Ra and his Arkestra - HORIZON (Saturn Records 1972)

Sometime in the mid-late 1980's I was lucky to be in attendance for a talk and performance
by Sun Ra and his Arkestra in front of a small audience.After the talk I went along to a private
party for the Arkestra, where I was fortunate to sit (literally) at the feet of the Master.
At one point during this heady day, I reached into my napsack and pulled out 3 original Saturn l.p.'s and asked him to sign them- as soon as he saw them he said "These are meant to be looked at under different colored lights" while I was in the process of gettingout a handful of different colored hi-lighters. So I said "Then please choose the right colors".
I then pulled out a postcard of Saturn (from where he had claimed to have been borne) and asked-
"Can you send me a message from space?"
He replied- "That's beautiful- No one wants messages from space anymore." And he signed the postcard.
Ungrateful wretch that I was, I was a tad disappointed that he hadn't given me something more profound - a Message, that is...



A Dream (ca. June 1, 1993)

I have been dropped off by a flying machine of unknown origin on to the top of a high-rise building. I don't remember if it was daytime or nighttime.
I am in the city of Philadelphia.
I want to see Sun Ra's house. As I remember from a documentary, his address is 5626 Morton St.
I notice suddenly that I am not alone up here-there is a woman, dressed in Black, with a black hood almost entirely covering her face. She is facing away from me, and seems to have no interest in me at all.
I ask her if she knows where Morton Street is. Though it is dark, I am shielding my eyes, trying to look out into the distance as I ask her. She either says "no" or shakes her head
to indicate "no"- I forget which.
I then ask her if she knows which way is East, not that I know in which direction Morton Street lies.
She says "no" in some fashion, and the scene
fades away to...

Upon waking, I went into the kitchen, where my father, who is visiting me, is reading
the newspaper. He looks up and says:
"Sun Ra died."
...

So- It seems I got my message from space after all.


Horizon: Sun Ra and his Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity Arkestra, forming part of the documentation of their first visit to Egypt.

Recorded at the Ballon Theatre, Cairo.

In various editions, the record has sometimes been known by the other title of "Starwatchers"














Side One:

1- Starwatchers/Theme of the Stargazers
Discipline 2
Shadow World

Side Two:

2- Third Planet
Space is the Place
Horizon
Discipline 8























Personnel

John Gilmore - tenor saxophone
Danny Davis - alto saxophone, flute
Marshall Allen - alto saxophone, flute, oboe
Kwame Hadi - trumpet, conga drums
Pat Patrick - baritone saxophone
Elo Omoe - bass clarinet
Tommy Hunter - percussion
Danny Thompson - baritone saxophone, flute
June Tyson - vocal
Larry Narthington - alto saxophone, conga drum
Lex Humphries - percussion
Clifford Jarvis - percussion
Hakim Rahim - alto saxophone, flute
Sun Ra - organ, Mini Moog, piano

Tam Fiofori - Engineer
Live album by Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Released 1972
Recorded December 17, 1971









5626 Morton St, Philadelphia-Sun's House

file repaired

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Janus [REPOST]

Sun Ra - Janus

This was among the first posts (5/30/2006) when this blog was started over three years ago. This was also reposted again when I transferred the posts from the old version of A Closet of Curiosities to this new version. I am posting this great Sun Ra record again for those who missed it as I was informed that the link was dead by someone who was wanting to check out the archives.

Island in the Sun

Variety Recording Studio, NYC, between 1968 and 1970

Sun Ra - piano; Danny Davis - alto clarinet; Marshall Allen - flute; Ronnie Boykins - bass; John Gilmore - percussion; Pat Patrick - percussion

"Island in the Sun" is one of those relaxed, flowing compositions with mildly exotic rhythms that are much beloved by Ra fans. The Arkestra still played it in public in the 1980s, though not nearly as often as "Carefree" or "Friendly Galaxy"; today, as "Islands in Space," it remains in the repertoire of Arkestral alumnus Michael Ray and his Cosmic Krewe. The swaying winds are Marshall Allen's liquid flute and Danny Davis' warm, woody alto clarinet. There are solos for Sunny's piano and Marshall's flute before the ensemble returns. The recording appears to have been made between 1968 and 1970. (Robert L. Campbell)

The Invisible Shield

recorded mono, probably at a live performance, 1970

Sun Ra - organ, Mini-Moog synthesizer; Marshall Allen - alto sax; Danny Davis - alto sax; Danny Ray Thompson - Neptunian libflecto (modified bassoon); Clifford Jarvis - drums

After the early commentary from the horns, "The Invisible Shield" becomes a nearly unaccompanied keyboard solo for Sun Ra. "The Invisible Shield" segues into "Janus" when the organ chord and "dentist drill" sounds from the Moog are suddenyl replaced by loud, low, reverberant banging sounds (either from gongs, or low notes from one of Sunny's electronic keyboards recorded with distortion.)

Janus

A. recorded at Sun Studios, NYC, 1967 or 1968

Sun Ra - gong or clavinet

B. recorded at Choreographers' Workshop, NYC, 1963

Sun Ra - director; Marshall Allen - piccolo, percussion; Danny Davis -alto sax, percussion; John Gilmore - tenor sax, bells; Pat Patrick - bongo, percussion; Robert Cummings - bass clarinet, percussion; ronnie Boykins - bass; Art Jenkins - vocal, percussion; Tommy Hunter - reverb, percussion

"Janus" is a compilation of two performances; on the master tape, it follows "The Invisible Shield" without a break. A transitional passage of banging sounds (deliberately distorted gongs, low Clavinet tones, or both) was probably recorded around 1968; it leads into the earliest performance on the CD. The bowed bass, cosmic side drums, and washes of analog reverb point to Sunny's psychedlic year, 1963. Sunny's goal was to evoke African ancestors; before the session, he exhorted singer Art Jenkins, "What about your African influence? what can you sing about Africa? Just being black - black is a color, like green is a color." Jenkins was prepared: "this time, my spirit took me back to Africa. And it was as like in a dreamworld sense, but I was back in my African village, with African musicians, singers, and dancers. It was like, 'It's your time to sing.' One singer moves to the next singer, and so forth, just like the (universal) voice moves." Another tape edit allows the piece to end quietly, with bells. (Robert L. Campbell)

Velvet

recorded in early 1968; it is different from a live recording from 1969 previously known to discographers

Sun Ra - piano; Bernard Pettaway - trombone; Marshall Allen - alto sax; Danny Davis - alto sax; John Gilmore - tenor sax; Pat Patrick - baritone sax; Robert Northern - French horn; Ronnie Boykins - bass; James Jacson - log drums, flute; Clifford Jarvis - drums solos by Pat Patrick (featured), Robert Northern and Sun Ra

"Velvet," a hard-bop composition, goes back to the Arkestra's earliest days in Chicago; the Arkestra had recorded it in 1958 and again in 1960. In the late 1960s, the Arkestra wasn't playing the piece all that regularly, as the rough-and-ready ensembles testify. We do get a tremendous earth-moving solo from Pat Patrick's baritone sax, and an unusual feature for the French horn of Robert Northern, as well as a pithy piano solo by The Ra. (Robert L. Campbell)

Joy

recorded live in NYC, early 1968

Sun Ra - piano, Clavioline; Bernard Pettaway - trombone; Robert Northern - French horn; Marshall Allen - alto sax, percussion; Danny Davis - alto sax, percussion; John gilmore - tenor sax, percussion; Pat Patrick - baritone sax, percussion; Ronnie Boykins - bass; James Jacson - log drums; Clifford Jarvis - drums

In the mid and late 1960s, Sun Ra would often quote a familiar composition as a theme just at the beginning or end of a series of free improvisations. The final 3 minutes of "Joy" could be more free improv., or they could move into the theme of "El is a Sound of Joy" or possibly another Sun Ra tune like "Tapestry from an Asteroid." (When the words to this composition are sung, the last two words are "space joy").

Tracklisting:

1. Island in the Sun {5:27}

2. The Invisible Shield/Janus {12:44}

3. Velvet {7:26}

4. Joy {9:17}

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Sun Ra - Lanquidity (1978)

This one is for Zhao of the Different Waters blog. It's a rather unique affair among Sun Ra's endless list of releases: fusion-inspired and with colorful, stunning arrangement details, it features two electric guitars, heavenly glockenspiels, spacy keyboards, electronic effects and -above all - some of the greatest basslines and riffs that ever graced an album from our favorite traveller of the Spaceways.

The song of a sweet wailing oboe duet, underscored with lovely electric piano twinkling, makes for a good spaced out opening, introducing a strange relaxedness that stays with us for the whole record.The big-bandish "Where Pathways Meet" with its catchy brass theme sounds like an outtake from David Shire's "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" soundtrack - gripping, funky, but still with an alien feel.

The first bars of "Twin Stars Of Thence" were sampled by U.N.K.L.E. (James Lavelle & Tim Goldsworthy) for their 1994 double EP "The Time Has Come" from MoWax, a seminal piece of British Trip Hop. Maybe Sun Ra intended the polyrhythmic backing of two delayed guitar licks to illustrate the pulsations of a twin star system, contrasting it with melancholic lines from a slightly de-tuned oboe. The effect is quite outlandish. Later on, there's a fantastic baritone sax solo - this could very well be the background music for a nightclub scene from "Shaft in Space", if there was such a movie.
The record closes with a cosmic lullaby: "There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)", a very slow, dreamy melody sung by a drowsy chorus of hypnotic voices, roamimg freely through an intergalactic vortex of echoes and phasings, before it drifts into the infinite realm of Outer-Nothingness. Wooosh...

"Advanced Lounge Music" I'd call this. All in all - and not to forget the brilliant multi-facet percussion arrangements with softly pounding timpani throughout - it's a must-listen, so download it now.

Inside the sleeve, a return postcard

1 Lanquidity
2 Where Pathways Meet
3 That's How I Feel
4 Twin Stars Of Thence
5 There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)

Sun Ra - organ, piano, electric piano, ARP synthesizer, Mini Moog, Crumar electronic keyboard, orchestra bells, Ethnic Voice

Richard Williams - bass
James Jacson - bassoon, flute, oboe, Ethnic Voice
Elo Omoe - bass clarinet, flute
Artaukatune - congas, timpani
Dale Williams, Disco Kid - guitars
Luqman Ali , Michael Anderson - percussion
Marshall Allen - alto sax, oboe, flute
Julian Presley - baritone sax
Danny Thompson - baritone sax, flute
John Gilmore - tenor sax
Eddie Gale - trumpet
Michael Ray - trumpet, flugelhorn
Edde Tahmahs & June Tyson - Ethnic Voices
produced by Sun Ra

Lossless FLAC: (1) (2) (3)

(cleaned up a bunch of nasty scratches on the vinyl, too)

[maybe reposted soon]

Cosmic Equation

Sun Ra - Cosmic Equation

*DISCLAIMER: This is a bootleg release of the album The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra Volume 1.

I spotted a used copy of this at one of the local indie record shops and bought it on the spot. I didn't know this was a bootleg until I did a little research a few days later. Anyway, I was just thrilled to add another Sun Ra album to my collection.

performers:

Sun Ra - piano, bass marimba, celeste, timpani

Ronnie Boykins - bass

Robert Cummings - bass clarinet, wood blocks

Danny Davis - alto saxophone, flute

Jimmy Johnson - timpani, percussion

Marshall Allen - alto saxophone, bells

Pat Patrick - baritone saxophone, percussion

John Gilmore - tenor saxophone, timpani

Teddy Nance - trombone

Bernard Pettaway - bass trombone

Chris Capers - trumpet

Tracklisting:

1. Heliocentric {4:09}

2. Outer Nothingness {7:15}

3. Other Worlds {4:18}

4. The Cosmos {7:08}

5. Of Heavenly Things {5:29}

6. Nebulae {3:12}

7. Dancing in the Sun {1:50}

(1)  [maybe reposted soon]

Blue Delight

Sun Ra - Blue Delight

* originally posted on August 11, 2006

Write up by muse1453:

I have a copy of this on cassette and it is one of my favorite thrift store finds. I bought this for only 49 cents plus tax at the local Goodwill. Blue Delight is not quite out-there as his past work, but it is still a worthy album. The tracklisting order is as it appears on the cassette format. I only mention this because the CD version has the same eight tracks but a different sequence.

Personnel:

Sun Ra - piano, synthesizer
James Jackson - bassoon, flute, percussion
Elo Omoe - bass clarinet, alto sax, contra-alto clarinet, percussion
John Gilmore - tenor sax, clarinet, percussion
Marshall Allen - alto sax, flute, oboe, A-flat clarinet
Noel Scott - alto sax, percussion
Danny Ray Thompson - baritone sax, flute, bongos
Fred Adams - trumpet
Tommy Turrentine - trumpet
Akmed Abdullah - trumpet
Al Evans - flugelhorn, French horn
Tyrone Hill - trombone
Julian Priester - trombone
Bruce Edwards - guitar
Carl LeBlanc - guitar (solos)
Billy Higgins - drums (on right)
Earl "Buster" Smith - drums (on left)
John Ore - bass
Elson Nascimento - percussion

Tracklisting:

1. Blue Delight {11:10}
Soloists: Carl LeBlanc, Tommy Turrentine, Sun Ra, John Gilmore, Julian Priester, Buster Smith, Billy Higgins

2. Out of Nowhere {5:26}
Soloists: John Gilmore, Sun Ra, Julian Priester, Carl LeBlanc

3. Sunrise {11:49}
Soloists: Akmed Abdullah, Marshall Allen, Al Evans, John Gilmore, Julian Priester

4. Nashira {4:11}
Soloists: Julian Priester, Sun Ra, John Gilmore

5. They Dwell On Other Planes {14:42}
Soloists: Al Evans, Akmed Abdullah, John Gilmore

6. Gone With the Wind {5:51}
Soloists: Tommy Turrentine, Sun Ra, John Gilmore, Julian Priester

7. Your Guest is As Good As Mine {5:51}
Soloists: Julian Priester, John Gilmore, Al Evans, Billy Higgins

8. Days of Wine and Roses {6:58}
Soloists: Al Evans, Sun Ra, Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Carl LeBlanc, Julian Priester

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