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Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons: Live in Philadelphia
by Mark Corroto
In 2025, the Collegium Cardinalium, or College of Cardinals--a body formed in the Middle Ages--convened a conclave in Rome to elect a new Pope for the Catholic Church. Nearly five centuries before the inception of such conclaves, Tibetan Buddhists established their own process of succession by searching for the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, often discovered in the form of a child. These spiritual traditions of succession are vital for preserving the identity, rituals and philosophies of their institutions. Each ...
Continue ReadingMaestro Marshall Allen Turns 101
by David Brown
I remember well when The Sun Ra Arkestra performed in 2019 to mark bandleader Marshall Allen's 95th birthday. At the time, it was difficult to imagine he'd continue performing into his second century. Yet, six years later, Maestro Allen remains active--touring, recording, and directing the Arkestra with undiminished energy. As Allen turned 101 on June 25, 2025, this program opens with selections from his extensive catalog, honoring a singular figure in avant-garde jazz. The second set continues with works from ...
Continue ReadingSun Ra: Nuits De La Fondation Maeght (Sun Ra)
by John Sharpe
Discoveries of lost tapes are often trumpeted as legendary or revelatory, but in the case of the greatly expanded Nuits De La Fondation Maeght, the hype feels entirely warranted. The release offers a comprehensive view of a pivotal moment in Sun Ra's career. In 1970, Sun Ra was invited to play at the prestigious private museum, Fondation Maeght, in southern France. The event was part of a concert series that starred other icons of the jazz avant-garde, ...
Continue ReadingMarshall Allen, Tom Weeks & David Murray
by Maurice Hogue
Live In Philadelphia, the new release by the miracle-man, saxophonist Marshall Allen, celebrates his 101st birthday on May 25. Recorded live at Solar Myth in Philadelphia, the album features Allen with Ghost Horizons, and it's one of the features by saxophonists in this episode of One Man's Jazz: David Murray's quartet goes to the birds on the new Birdly Serenade; Sweden's Alberto Pinton's latest is his debut on vinyl; Tom Weeks, alto player from San Francisco, is absolutely burnin' on ...
Continue ReadingMarshall Allen, Ludivine Issambourg, Massimiliano Cignitti, Adam Baldych & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
This week we focus on a most auspicious debut album, which offers a welcome opportunity to appreciate Marshall Allen for being more than the flamekeeper of the Sun Ra legacy, and the launch of The Year of Women in Jazz with a groovy single by Rosa Brunello. The playlist also features Massimiliano Cignitti's tribute to Edda Dell'Orso, the mesmerizing singer on many Ennio Morricone soundtracks, and much more! Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz ...
Continue ReadingSound of Germantown: Byard Lancaster, Monnette Sudler, Marshall Allen
by David Brown
This week, let's keep it in the neighborhood with a program featuring artists who have current or historical connections to the Germantown neighborhood, home of G-Town Radio in Philadelphia. Recordings featured include bagpiper/saxophonist Rufus Harley, guitarist Monnette Sudler, saxophonist/flutist Byard Lancaster, saxophonist/poet Elliott Levin, alto saxophonist/EVI Marshall Allen, band leader/pianist Sun Ra, vibraphonist Khan Jamal, song/guitar duo Bethlehem and Sad Patrick and poet Trapeta B. Mason. Germantown is a culturally rich community that has been home to many artists of ...
Continue ReadingSun Ra: Lights on a Satellite: Live At The left Bank
by Ian Patterson
Sun Ra aficionados seem to possess an insatiable appetite for archival recordings of the ever-evolving ensembles of the pianist, composer and bandleader. Born Helman Poole Blount, in Alabama, in 1914, Ra released possibly as many as 200 albums during his lifetime, including extremely limited pressings with hand-painted covers that he sold in person. You might think such a vast and collectable discography would be treasure-trove enough for even the most committed of Ra crate diggers, but no. Which brings us ...
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