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The Sun Ra Arkestra

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The Sun Ra Arkestra
2023 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
2023 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
Background information
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresJazz
Years activemid-1950s - present
Past membersSun Ra, Atakatune (Stanley Morgan), Danny Ray Thompson
Websitesunraarkestra.com

The Sun Ra Arkestra is an American jazz group formed in the mid-1950s and led by keyboardist/composer Sun Ra until his death in 1993. The group is considered a pioneer of afrofuturism.[1][2] Since 1995 the Arkestra has been led by saxophonist Marshall Allen, an Arkestra member since 1958, who is supported by more than a dozen other musicians.[3][4]

History

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The band is headquartered in a rowhouse in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Saxophonist and current leader Marshall Allen has lived and worked in the house since 1968.[5]

In 1976, Vincent Chancey, an American jazz hornist joined the group.[3]

In 1993, John Gilmore became the leader of the Arkestra after Sun Ra died.[6][4]

In 1995, Allen became the leader of the Arkestra after Gilmore's death.[7][4]

In 1999, the Arkestra released the studio album, A Song for the Sun.[3]

In 2009, Philadelphia's Institute of Contemporary Art hosted an exhibition of the group's history and artistry.[2]

In 2012 Tara Middleton, a violinist and vocalist joined the group.[3][8]

In 2017, the Arkestra opened for Solange on her tour supporting her 2016 album, A Seat at the Table.[2]

In 2019, the Arkestra had a major performance at the Hollywood Theater in Portland, Oregon.[2]

In October 2020, the Sun Ra Arkestra released Swirling, the first album the band released in 20 years.[5][3] The band recorded the album at Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Soundworks and was released on Strut Records.[2] The album features the first-ever recording of Sun Ra's song "Darkness."[9]

Music style and influences

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The Arkestra draws from a range of musical genres: swing, rock 'n' roll, Chicago blues, improvisation and electronic.[8]

When the Arkestra performs, the band members wear flashy capes and sequined headdresses.[5][8]

Discography

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Studio Albums

  • A Song of the Sun (1999)
  • Swirling (2020)
  • Living Sky (2022)[10]

See also Sun Ra discography

Live Albums

  • Babylon Live (In + Out Records/2015)[11]

References

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Library resources about
The Sun Ra Arkestra
  1. ^ "On 'Swirling,' Marshall Allen Keeps The Sun Ra Arkestra Soaring Through Space". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e Shaffer, Claire (2020-06-23). "Sun Ra Arkestra Announce First Album in 20 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  3. ^ a b c d e Effinger, Shannon. "Marshall Allen is 96 years old and still leading one of the most visionary jazz groups of all time". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  4. ^ a b c Sullivan, Robert (2024-06-24). "The Sun Ra Arkestra's Maestro Hits One Hundred". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  5. ^ a b c "After partial collapse, neighbors help make Sun Ra's Philly space the place again". WHYY. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  6. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Marshall Allen Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  7. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Marshall Allen Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  8. ^ a b c Russonello, Giovanni (2020-10-27). "Earth Couldn't Contain Sun Ra's Ideas. His Arkestra Is Still Exploring Them". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  9. ^ Kreps, Daniel (2020-07-16). "Sun Ra Arkestra Revisit Jazz Legend's Classics on New Album 'Swirling'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  10. ^ Bloom, Madison (2022-07-21). "Sun Ra Arkestra Announce New Album Living Sky, Share New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  11. ^ Fordham, John (2015-07-02). "Sun Ra Arkestra/Marshall Allen: Babylon Live review – otherwordly space-jazz". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
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