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We Say...
Here's avant-garde jazz giant Sun Ra and his Arkestra, recorded at the absolute height of their most experimental period. For some, that will translate into difficult and abrasive listening; for others, it's a chance to examine one of jazz's wiggiest creators with his hair all the way down. The pianist/composer's journey was a unique and fruitful one, and depending upon who you believe — the State of Alabama or the composer — he was either born in Birmingham or on the planet Saturn. Regardless, he made his recording debut in the late '40s as pianist for R&B singer Wynonie Harris before moving to Chicago. There, he worked with a wide range of musicians including the great bandleader Fletcher Henderson before building his own increasingly experimental crew, dubbed the Arkestra, around the saxophonists John Gilmore, Pat Patrick and Marshall Allen, eventually moving to New York in the early '60s. The Magic City, recorded in 1965, is wide-open free jazz, improvised and spontaneous. The title track is an extended 27-minute foray into space, mood and electronics while the remainder of the album is given over to "The Shadow World" and two improvisations on the same structure. The playing is moody, aggressive and often decidedly unmelodic, and its merits remain hotly debated even today, 12 years after Sun Ra's death and 40 years after its creation. Now that's a challenging record!
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They Say...
The boundaries of Sun Ra's self-proclaimed "space jazz" underwent a transformation in the mid-'60s. The Magic City is an aural snapshot of that metamorphic process. Many enthusiasts and scholars consider this to be among Ra's most definitive studio recordings. Although the "city" in the album's title was thought to have been New York -- where the disc was recorded -- it is actually Ra's earthly birthplace of Birmingham, AL. The Magic City consists of four free jazz compositions: the album side-length title track, "The Shadow World," "Abstract Eye," and "Abstract I" -- two variants of a common work. These pieces are essentially ensemble improvisations recorded live. Any direction from Ra, indicating the order of soloists for instance, would be given either through his playing or with hand signals. Sun Ra & His Solar Myth Arkestra took up residency in Manhattan's East Village in the early to mid-'60s. Their neighbors included Pharaoh Sanders as well as Babatunde Olatunji. In fact, "The Shadow World," "Abstract Eye," and "Abstract I" were actually recorded in Olatunji's loft. The title track begins with weaving distant and frenetic lines from Ronnie Boykins (bass) and Ra (piano, clavoline), connected by intermittent eruptions from Roger Blank (drums). All the while, Marshall Allen's dreamlike piccolo randomly maneuvers through the sonic haze. The piece also contains an ensemble onslaught that abruptly contrasts with everything experienced up through that point. In the wake of the innately earthbound "Magic City" are three comparatively shorter pieces with subtle undercurrents that return Ra to space motifs. For example, the importance of sonic contrast defines "The Shadow World" by juxtaposing the lightly churning bass and cymbal into some surreal keyboard interjections from Ra. The Magic City also comes with an insightful liner notes essay from Ra scholar John F. Szwed, aiding in understanding the circumstances surrounding this piece of free jazz genius.
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You Say...
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| 01. |  |
The Magic City |
27:25 |  |
| 02. | |
The Shadow World |
10:58 | |
| 03. | |
Abstract Eye |
2:52 | |
| 04. | |
Abstract "I" |
4:08 | |
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Credits
- John Gilmore - Percussion // John Gilmore - Sax (Tenor) // Marshall Allen - Flute // Marshall Allen - Percussion // Marshall Allen - Piccolo // Marshall Allen - Sax (Alto) // Ronnie Boykins - Bass // Alton Abraham - Producer // Roger Blank - Drums // Chris Capers - Percussion // Chris Capers - Trumpet // Robert Cummings - Percussion // Robert Cummings - Clarinet (Bass) // Danny Davis - Flute // Danny Davis - Percussion // Danny Davis - Sax (Alto) // Jerry Gordon - Producer // Jerry Gordon - Reissue Producer // Ali Hassan - Trombone // Walter Miller - Trumpet // Teddy Nance - Trombone // Pat Patrick - Flute // Pat Patrick - Sax (Baritone) // Pat Patrick - Tympani [Timpani] // Bernard Pettaway - Trombone (Bass) // Sun Ra - Piano // Sun Ra - Piano // Sun Ra - Piano // Sun Ra - Piano // Sun Ra - Piano // Sun Ra - Piano // Sun Ra - Celeste // Sun Ra - Celeste // Sun Ra - Celeste // Sun Ra - Celeste // Sun Ra - Celeste // Sun Ra - Celeste // Sun Ra - Drums // Sun Ra - Drums // Sun Ra - Drums // Sun Ra - Drums // Sun Ra - Drums // Sun Ra - Drums // Sun Ra - Harp // Sun Ra - Harp // Sun Ra - Harp // Sun Ra - Harp // Sun Ra - Harp // Sun Ra - Harp // Sun Ra - Marimba // Sun Ra - Marimba // Sun Ra - Marimba // Sun Ra - Marimba // Sun Ra - Marimba // Sun Ra - Marimba // Sun Ra - Tympani [Timpani] // Sun Ra - Tympani [Timpani] // Sun Ra - Tympani [Timpani] // Sun Ra - Tympani [Timpani] // Sun Ra - Tympani [Timpani] // Sun Ra - Tympani [Timpani] // Sun Ra - Main Performer // Sun Ra - Main Performer // Sun Ra - Main Performer // Sun Ra - Main Performer // Sun Ra - Main Performer // Sun Ra - Main Performer // Sun Ra - Performer // Sun Ra - Performer // Sun Ra - Performer // Sun Ra - Performer // Sun Ra - Performer // Sun Ra - Performer // Sun Ra - Clavioline // Sun Ra - Clavioline // Sun Ra - Clavioline // Sun Ra - Clavioline // Sun Ra - Clavioline // Sun Ra - Clavioline // Sun Ra - Electronic Celeste // Sun Ra - Electronic Celeste // Sun Ra - Electronic Celeste // Sun Ra - Electronic Celeste // Sun Ra - Electronic Celeste // Sun Ra - Electronic Celeste // Roger Seibel - Pre-Mastering Engineer // Harry Spencer - Sax (Alto) // Jimmy Johnson, Jr. - Drums // Danny Davis - Flute // Danny Davis - Percussion // Danny Davis - Sax (Alto) // James Jacson - Percussion // John F. Szwed - Liner Notes // Raymond Ross - Photography // William White - Cover Art
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