Record Reviews

Sun Ra & His Arkestra

Greatest Hits: Easy Listening for Intergalactic Travel (Evidence)

Sun Ra

The Great Lost Sun Ra Albums: Cymbals & Crystal Spears (Evidence)

Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra

Pathways to Unknown Worlds + Friendly Love (Evidence)

Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra

When Angels Speak of Love (Evidence)

Sun Ra

Lanquidity (Evidence)

A few months before he passed from this world in 1993, Sun Ra was approached by Jerry Gordon, longtime fan and Philly record dealer, who for years enjoyed an "in" into the mythic Ra realm -- a backstage pass of insight into the musical spaceman's recorded legacy. Gordon, through his label Evidence Records, has taken on the cause of reissuing Sun Ra: the mythic and prolific commune-leading jazzman from Saturn whose Arkestra survived decades and inspired inner-space escape for millions. With 16 titles already in the coffers, Evidence offers further evidence -- five CDs excavated mostly from the vaults of Ra's label El Saturn -- of the lamé-cloaked great one's otherworldly significance in the global scheme of things. It's taken four years since the groundbreaking Sun Ra Singles double CD, but love's labors rule. The quintet of new titles demonstrates valiant attempts to provide as much information about the originals as possible -- something that Ra himself seemed so intent not to do. Then again, the elder jazz outer-statesman was known for his penchant for obfuscation. In these resurrections, conscious effort has been taken, mindful perhaps of the baby musicos and pop culturas weaned at the appreciative teat of noise and groove mavens wide and varied, yet spiritually akin, as say, Sonic Youth and Funkadelic. Interestingly, however, that while Sun Ra seems much more accessible in the nowadays context of crypt-kicking CD re-releases and online jazz dissertations (even complete musical dorks can claim Ornette Coleman and Coleman Hawkins as influences), Ra is still a stratospheric outlaw. Newbies and catchers-up in retrospect may lipsmack lip service to the shower-capped time traveler, but it takes a hearty constitution and a passion for discord to listen sans flinch to five discs' worth. Quibbles? Sure. Despite terrific liner notes, there is a painful dearth of depth regarding the actual musicians on each project. The stories of longtime and loyal tooters Pat Patrick, John Gilmore, and Marshall Allen, and sassy singer/dancer June Tyson, who subjugated their individuality for the good of the collective, are certainly of interest. That said, which disc to get first? Well, the uninitiated may wish to grab the excellent Greatest Hits, which despite its snubbing of the greatest Ra reel ever, "Watusa," lays out the cosmic one's chronology like an alien autopsy. Lanquidity, from 1978, might be another fine place to start: Its name suggests Sonny's affinity for wordplay and meaning-morph, and the disc itself is a fine time capsule of a world hurtling to disco infinity, cram-packed with vibraphoned-in messages from some R&B & P-funked planet. This in no way is to imply that the other three are for diehards only, but for those new to space travel, additional purchase of helmet and freeze-dried soul might be in order.

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