Sun Ra Archive

Sun Ra Arkestra in Philadelphia

– January 10, 2012Posted in: Festivals/Concerts

The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen will start its 2012 World Tour with a rare Philadelphia, PA club appearance on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at The Blockley, 38th & Chestnut at 9:00 pm. Tickets are $15 and available at the Blockley Box Office by phoning 215-222-1234 or online at www.theblockley.com.

This manifestation of the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen at its Earth base of Philadelphia will be supported by a live radio interview of Marshall Allen and Danny Ray Thompson at 10:00 pm EST on Friday, January 20, 2012 conducted by J. Michael Harrison, host of “The Bridge” on WRTI (Philadelphia’s jazz radio station at 90.1 FM) which will stream live on the Internet at www.wrti.org.

For additional information about the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen, please visit www.thesunraarkestra.com.

Tags: Sun Ra

Sun Ra Arkestra in Israel & England

– November 28, 2011Posted in: Festivals/Concerts

The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen will conclude its 2011 World Tour with appearances in Israel and England. Details about this exciting manifestation of the Arkestra, which includes the 4th residency of the Sun Ra Arkestra at the Cafe Oto, are below:

- December 3 – Barbie Club, Tel Aviv, Israel
- December 6, 7, & 8 – Cafe Oto, London, England [December 8 is sold out]
- December 10 – Band on the Wall, Manchester, England
- December 11 – Butlin’s Holiday Resort, Somerset, England

A very interesting interview with current Sun Ra Arkestra member Knoell Scott regarding his experiences with Sun Ra can be found here.

For additional information about the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen, please visit www.thesunraarkestra.com.

Tags: Sun Ra

Sun Ra Arkestra NYC Halloween Show

– October 12, 2011Posted in: Festivals/Concerts

The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen continues its 2011 World Tour with a Halloween Spectacular on Monday, October 31, 2011 at Drom, 85 Avenue A, Manhattan, New York City, USA.

The classic New York City Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village will take place not far from the Arkestra extravaganza where classic Sun Ra charts like “Halloween in Harlem” and “Unmask the Batman” are likely to make the setlist.

Doors are at 8:00 pm and the show starts at 9:30 pm. Ticket reservations are $15 and available by phoning Drom at 212-777-1157.

For more information about the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen, please visit www.thesunraarkestra.com.

Tags: Sun Ra

Early Sun Ra history box set out in October

– August 11, 2011Posted in: New releases

The Transparency label, which has been making a name for itself with its Sun Ra live and unreleased titles will release an ambitious 14-disc collection from the late jazz pianist, composer and bandleader. Titled The Eternal Myth: The Early Music History of Sun Ra, it’s tantalizingly billed as “Part One” and is “the first collaboration” between the label’s Michael Sheppard and the Sun Ra Music Archive,” the official Sun Ra organization founded by Michael D. Anderson (who was a member of Sun Ra’s legendary Arkestra).

Part One examines Sun Ra’s early 1920s Blues Vocal and 1930s Big Band influences, his first recordings in 1946 as a piano sideman, his arrangements and compositions, Sun Ra as a singer in the late 1940s, his trio in 1949, creating the sound for vocalists Laverne Baker and Joe Williams, coaching The Hambone Kids in 1952 and the late 1940s Afro-Cuban influence of band leader Perez Prado and other rare facts and musically unheard inclusions.”

Contained on the box will be 13 hours of “ultra-rare music plus hours of Sun Ra speech” detailing autobiographical details, along with an 150-page 5″ x 5″ book.

For ordering info contact the label at transparency2011@yahoo.com.

Tags: Sun Ra

The Sun Ra Arkestra returns to London

– July 15, 2011Posted in: Festivals/Concerts

The Sun Ra Arkestra
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARSHALL ALLEN
Cafe OTO, London, Tues-Thurs 6-7-8 December 2011

We love a big band, and the Arkestra is one of the most influential big bands of all time. This will be their fourth residency at Cafe OTO, and many will remember the five extraordinary concerts they gave when the Icelandic ash cloud made them our house band for a few precious days. They’ve been keen to get back to OTO, and we’re thrilled to give everyone a chance to see them dip into their vast songbook in such an intimate setting.

“Resplendent in sparkling red robes, Allen commanded the [Cafe Oto] stage from front left, orchestrating, directing, and choosing soloists. He was full of energy at 85 years old, and needed it as the Arkestra presented two typically far reaching sets totaling nearly 165 minutes.” — All About Jazz

TICKETS
£22 advance / £25 on the door
£60 for a three day pass
More info: www.thesunraarkestra.com

Tags: Sun Ra

This Planet Is Doomed: The Science Fiction Poetry of Sun Ra

– June 22, 2011Posted in: Books

THIS PLANET IS DOOMED, which collects the science-fiction poetry of Sun Ra, explodes into the stratosphere on 7/7/11, an auspicious day for numerologists and doomsday enthusiasts alike. 7/7 coincides historically with the detonation of 20 kiloton Little Feller II, the first of the last four above ground nuclear warhead tests conducted in the US. The date will also evidence interstellar overdrive when Saturn, Pluto , Uranus and Venus form an intense and rare alignment known as the Cardinal Grand Cross.

THIS PLANET IS DOOMED serves up a traumatic torrent of future shock—deeply personal and critical commentary and unsettling advice to the people of Earth, who fail to acknowledge this planet’s role in the universe.

Poet Amiri Baraka’s estimable foreword, together with science fiction historian Bhob Stewart’s revealing introduction, set the stage for the heavy dose of the real and the unreal, which are delivered in the pages of THIS PLANET IS DOOMED.

This book was collected from tape recordings and transcriptions culled from the Sun Ra Archives by director Michael Anderson, who worked with Norton Records to compile a total of six albums—three collections of rare and unissued music recordings (on LP and CD) plus a trio (vinyl only) of unissued spoken word Sun Ra LP’s. A collector’s edition 45 of “I Am Strange” is also available.

THIS PLANET IS DOOMED was expanded with the addition of several key “lost” poems which appear here for the first time.

In conjunction with the publication of THIS PLANET IS DOOMED, the Orchard has launched downloads of the vinyl spoken word albums, which are entitled STRANGE WORLDS IN MY MIND, THE SUB-DWELLERS and THE OUTER DARKNESS.

Order Sun Ra books from Amazon.com

Tags: Books, Sun Ra

Annual Bang on a Can Marathon on June 19

– June 14, 2011Posted in: Festivals/Concerts

On Sunday, June 19, from 11am until midnight, Bang on a Can is back and kicks off the River To River Festival with its annual Bang on a Can Marathon, FREE for the public at World Financial Center Winter Garden (220 Vesey Street, NYC), co-presented by Arts World Financial Center.

The Marathon has been part of the River To River Festival for six years, and this year kicks off the month-long celebration of free music, dance, film, theater, play, and arts events throughout Lower Manhattan.

Founded in 1987, the Marathon will again bring together more than 150 astounding performers and composers from around the world, performing in numerous experimental genres. Bang on a Can’s annual 12-hour-plus Marathon has become one of the most diverse, open, and engaging music events in the world.

Of last year’s event, The New York Times reported, “Disparate strands from the contemporary classical, jazz, electronica, world music and indie rock spheres were neatly woven together into a crazy-quilt epresentation of adventuresome notions. You could liken the program to a quirky mixtape or iPod playlist, except that its reach was broader, more like a Last.fm Internet radio channel, idiosyncratically sequenced, then made available for public consumption.”

This year’s Marathon begins at 11am with an outdoor kick-off on the plaza featuring the renegade street band Asphalt Orchestra performing music by STEW/Heidi Rodewald and Yoko Ono (and later on music by David Byrne/Annie Clark, Goran Bregovic, Björk, Frank Zappa and more).

Moving inside the Winter Garden, the Marathon will gather significant premieres alongside landmark legendary works: among the many highlights of the day are the explosive Bang on a Can All-Stars teaming up live with Philip Glass to perform the early 70s classic Music in Similar Motion; a rare performance by New York’s legendary Glenn Branca of his massive hour-long work Ascension: The Sequel; Prism Saxophone Quartet playing Xenakis’ crazy-hard Xas alongside works by young composers Kati Agócs with her meditative Hymn and Roshanne Etezady’s sparkling Keen; the incomparable and outer-planetary Sun Ra Arkestra; featured virtuosic solo performances by Timo Andres, Alejandro Escuer playing Gabriela Ortiz, Todd Reynolds, and more.

More info: bangonacan.org.

Tags: Bang On A Can, Sun Ra

Violinist Billy Bang Dies

– April 12, 2011Posted in: Obituaries

Violinist Billy Bang died on April 11. According to an associate, he had been suffering from lung cancer. Bang was 63. Born in Mobile, Alabama as William Vincent Walker, Bang was raised in the Bronx and began playing the violin at a very young age. He was given the nickname Billy Bang in homage to a cartoon character.

Although he won a scholarship to a prestigious boarding prep school in New England, Bang ended up dropping out and returning to the Bronx. Alienated from formal education, Bang gave up the violin. He was drafted into the Army at the age of 18 and served in Vietnam until his discharge a few years later.

Although he got his G.E.D. in the Army and studied pre-law and even went to law school for a short time, Bang bounced around at various jobs after his release from the military and eventually picked up the violin again. He dedicated himself to relearning the instrument and became part of the downtown loft jazz scene of the 70s.

Bang played briefly with the Sun Ra Arkestra and in 1977 inspired by the approach of the World Saxophone Quartet he formed the New York String Trio with John Lindberg and James Emery, with whom he would play regularly for many years. Bang also developed his own career as a solo artist and bandleader. Over the next 20-30 years, Bang would collaborate with many of the greats of the improvising jazz scene, including William Parker, Hamiett Bluiett, Sun Ra, Don Cherry, David Murray and many others. He recorded over 30 albums including many for the Canadian Justin Time label.

Tags: Billy Bang, Jazz, Sun Ra

New Sun Ra DVD: Jazz Session

– March 29, 2011Posted in: Films/Documentaries, New releases

Out of nowhere: SUN RA – Jazz Session, a French television film, available on Transparency (Transparency 0318, 32 minutes)

According to the press release “this black & white portrait of the Arkestra is startlingly beautiful and is possibly the single finest film of the band ever. This surpasses even Space Is The Place in its details of how this tribe conjures the purest magic of costumes, percussion, and joyous science fiction truth.”

Captured during a momentary stop in France (1/8/72) on their way back to Oakland after the Autumn/Winter 1971 European and Cairo, Egypt tours, this flawless video recording has never been seen by even the most hardcore Sun Ra collectors and discographers.

Titles:
01. Somebody Else’s Idea
02. Watusi
03. Discipline
04. Synth

Most Transparency releases are available from Dustygroove.com or directly through the label.

Tags: Jazz, Sun Ra

Sun Ra Arkestra at the Eyebeam Atelier

– March 28, 2011Posted in: Festivals/Concerts

The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen will make the first stop on its 2011 World Tour at the Eyebeam Atelier in New York City, 540 West 21st Street (between 10th & 11th Ave) on Saturday April 9, 2011 when the Arkestra headlines an event titled “MIXER: Past Futures” happening from 9 pm to 2 am.

The Eyebeam Atelier can be contacted at 212-937-6580. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen is also pleased to announce that it will be making its first ever landing in Australia on Sunday, June 5 when it is featured at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in a concert at The Forum starting at 8:30 pm. This will be the first ever visitation of the Arkestra to Australia in its 55 year history on this planet.

For further information about the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, please visit www.melbournejazz.com.

For more information about the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen, please visit www.thesunraarkestra.com.

Tags: Sun Ra

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Sun Ra Archive

Sun Ra Arkestra in Philadelphia

Sun Ra Arkestra in Israel & England

Sun Ra Arkestra NYC Halloween Show

Early Sun Ra history box set out in October

The Sun Ra Arkestra returns to London

This Planet Is Doomed: The Science Fiction Poetry of Sun Ra

Annual Bang on a Can Marathon on June 19

Violinist Billy Bang Dies

New Sun Ra DVD: Jazz Session

Sun Ra Arkestra at the Eyebeam Atelier

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