Jazz Articles about Sun Ra

Sun Ra: The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra

by Matthew Wuethrich
January 19, 2003

Sun Ra stated that he wanted to create otherworldly emotions on this album. These emotions are “disguised as jazz,” to quote one of Ra’s poems. The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra, recorded in 1961, consists of a range of simmering, swinging, riffing tunes full of deft counterpoint. On the surface, these tunes show a rather restrained side of Ra and his Arkestra, yet below that surface lurk some unsettling emotions. Some might mistake those unsettling feelings for detachment, or worse, ...

Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Jazz in Silhouette

by Matthew Wuethrich
January 13, 2003

In the jazz universe, Sun Ra typically travels in an unknown, distant galaxy of his own. He is on the map, but understood and given his proper significance by only a loyal few. Most know his esoteric philosophising, lavish stage shows, and outward-bound music, but those features only scratch the surface of Ra’s music. Recorded in 1958, Jazz in Silhouette stands as an overlooked masterpiece, a work that shows Ra not as a mere curiosity or backwater galaxy, but as ...

Sun Ra: The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. I

by Matthew Wuethrich
January 13, 2003

A misconception: Sun Ra played free jazz. Critics and listeners usually lump Ra’s dissonant recordings into the free jazz category for one of two reasons. They either take his aggressive, wild sound textures to be essentially the same as that of other members of the '60s avant-garde; or there is just no good category for Ra. “Free jazz,” thus, becomes the best available label. The latter reason is justifiable, while the former reason is not. Listen closely to The Heliocentric ...

Sun Ra: Lanquidity

by Matthew Wuethrich
January 12, 2003

1978’s Lanquidity (now re-issued by Evidence) features a silver and purple cover image of Ra that begs the question: Has Sun Ra made a fusion album? This thought at first seems merely ridiculous, then after further consideration becomes a bit surreal, and then upon hearing becomes downright disturbing. As with any Ra project, a simple description such as “Ra does fusion” serves no justice in truly describing the actual music. Ra was a master at twisting known musical idioms into ...

Sun Ra: Music from Tomorrow's World

by Matthew Wuethrich
January 12, 2003

Historical document or musical revelation? Music from Tomorrow’s World, the latest release in Atavistic’s Unheard Music Series, again poses this seemingly eternal, yet pertinent, question. Should live recordings be made available to the listening public, even if the sound quality distorts and obscures the musical content? Many would say no, but in the case of Sun Ra the parameters of the debate change, and for this album the musical content comes across as vivid and exciting--with a little patient listening, ...

Sun Ra and his Arkestra: Music From Tomorrow's World

by Mark Corroto
November 1, 2002

1960 was one of many turning points in the career of Sun Ra. That year he moved from Chicago’s South Side to New York City. Behind, he left the idea that became the AACM, plus many inspired musicians who would create the Chicago avant- sound.

Unheard Music producer John Corbett has unearthed two never heard and presumed lost dates from Ra’s last days in Chicago. The first seven tracks were from a live date from a tavern called ...

Sun Ra and His Outer Space Arkestra: Nuclear War

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 2001

For all the talk about his extraterrestrial origins and cosmic philosophy, Sun Ra was often a very well- grounded human being. His 1982 disc Nuclear War has an easy-groovin' feeling throughout. Ra's big hope for major label recognition ended up released on the underground Y Records instead--but Atavistic just seized the opportunity to get Nuclear War back in print in the digital format.

The undeniable “hit" on this accessible recording is the title track opener, where Ra raps on the ...