Stuff For Interplanetary Jazzheads

Well my ducks. This week has been a bit of a head mash for me. I’ve been off work on the summer ‘olidiz, which means I’ve had more time to see what’s been going on, and contemplate my thoughts on things. What about these riots then? I’ve switched sides about 50times over the last week from “ROBBING SCUMBAGS” to “aah them poor neglected youths with bad parents and an unhelpful government”. The problem is, once you start reading more into things and trying to be firm on what you think, then comes the head mash!! I could do without it to be honest. I’m not one that believes everything has everything to do with politics. I’m happy doing my own thing in my own world, and as long as there’s a cup of Yorkshire Gold in easy reach, I’ll get over anything quickly.

This week I want to share Sun-Ra with you. Generally I like to write about what I think, but I might get stressed again, so I’m gonna give you the goods, and you can do the thinking. Lets get acquainted with him:

Sun Ra and his Arkestra Live.

Those that follow DJ’s Gilles Peterson and co will probably be familiar with Sun-Ra’s “Space is the place”. It crops up from time to time in its original form and in remixes. For those that don’t know him, he had some pioneering far-outness going on, and not just in his music. Sun Ra claimed to have been to Saturn, and that he was sent to earth to save humanity and bring harmony to the world. Musically he’d been turning heads since the 40’s with his unusual chords, but he aroused interest in all walks of life- a judge once said to him “I’ve never seen a ni**er like you before” to which he replied, “No, and you never will again.”

I want to point you to the album cover below because it’s a beautiful collection of work, full of personality and behind the scenes action, and the lesser known side to Sun Ra’s work. He wasn’t just a “crackpot”. He was a blummin good musician and composer.

Sun Ra – Africa.

It was during this time that Sun-Ra developed a rehearsal style that he would use the rest of his life: he turned his living quarters into a rehearsal and recording studio and practiced virtually around the clock. He also recruited a collective of musicians and gave them free music lessons if they were willing to show up at his house on short notice and try out his arrangements. Sadly the best tracks- “Spaceship Lullaby”, and “Chicago USA” (written as an entry to come up with a new official song for the city) aren’t available on You Tube to show you, but you can hear excerpts on itunez.

Into the 60’s, Sun-Ra and his Arkestra’s sound became increasingly abstract (check them out on YouToob). Ra was experimenting with pieces that dealt more with sound colouring and texture than structure (hence the wild video at the top). The Arkestra members wore colourful, glistening outfits that were a combination of African tribesman dress, Egyptian mythology, and space suits. As was appropriate for a high priest, Sun Ra usually wore the most outrageous outfit, with a headdress and flowing cloak.

Anyway, I’m taking about costumes now god-damn- LETS GET BACK TO THE RIOTS- Whatever Sun-Ra does or says, however strange it may sound, if you listen, he’s always got a point. If you’re willing to skip to 3.35 on this video, Sun-Ra delivers a speech that could stand for all of the youths involved in the recent activities!!!

Sun Ra – Space Is The Place Film Extract.