Super-Sonic Jazz

by Sun Ra, Sun Ra & His Arkestra

Overview

Sun Ra had only been heading his Arkestra for a couple of years when they recorded the 12 songs featured on this 1956 session. But while the arrangements, ensemble work, and solos are not as ambitious, expansive, or free-wheeling as they became on later outings, the groundwork was laid on such cuts as "India," "Sunology," and one of the first versions of "Blues at Midnight." Ra's band already had the essential swinging quality and first-class soloists, and he had gradually challenged them with compositions that did not rely on conventional hard bop riffs, chord changes, and structure but demanded a personalized approach and understanding of sound and rhythm far beyond standard thinking. You can hear in Ra's solos and those of John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, Charles Davis, and others an emerging freedom and looseness which would explode in the future. ~ Ron Wynn

Product Details

Release Date:	04/05/2019
Label:	Not Now Music
UPC:	5060397601568
Rank:	80006

Tracks

1. India
2. Sunology, Pt. 1
3. Advice to Medics
4. Super Blonde
5. Soft Talk
6. Sunology, Pt. 2
7. Kingdom of Not
8. Portrait of the Living Sky
9. Blues at Midnight
10. El Is a Sound of Joy
11. Springtime in Chicago
12. Medicine for a Nightmare

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sun Ra   Primary Artist,Piano
Sun Ra & His Arkestra   Primary Artist
Sun Ra Arkestra   Primary Artist
Pat Patrick   Sax (Alto),Alto (Vocals),Sax (Baritone),Baritone (Vocal)
Charles Davis   Sax (Baritone),Baritone (Vocal)
John Gilmore   Sax (Tenor),Tenor (Vocal)
Robert Barry   Drums
Arthur Hoyle   Trumpet
Victor Sproles   Bass,Sax (Bass)
Julian Priester   Trombone
William "Bugs" Cochran   Drums
James Herndon   Timpani,Timbales
James Scales   Sax (Alto),Alto (Vocals)
Jim Herndon   Timpani,Timbales
Wilburn Green   Bass (Electric)

Technical Credits

Alton Abraham   Producer
Jerry Gordon   Producer,Reissue Producer
David Shirk   Pre-Mastering Engineer
Roger Seibel   Audio Restoration
Julian Priester   Composer
Sun Ra   Composer,Performer
Judith Salavetz   Art Direction
Spencer Drate   Art Direction
Claude Dangerfield   Cover Art
Wilburn Green   Bass Programming