jostber

Both of those are great classic stuff, especially the first. Me I bought:

What's your favorite Tal?

Really? Which track? From that Hoffman tread: "Flight of the Batman" contains very strange slide whistle, siren whistle, and rhythmic squonking that could, as well, be an Arkestra idea. This track even contains a squeaking door as part of the instrumentation of the later verses, and what appears to be a garbage can be shaken during the fadeout.

Just got this record: Tal Farlow Quartet. Had not heard too much of Farlow before, but this is great! An up and coming favourite.

It is rumoured that there is some squeaking door on the Batman album too! Strange Strings rules. It have just been discussed over at "The Sun Ra Album-By-Album" thread over at http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums

Danny Boy in March is like eating soup with a fork. Not too suitable.

This is an excellent list! This is an incredible list, a great reference.

Here is from ReR Megacorp today: SPECIAL SUN RA Media Dreams (dbl CD) [£17] ART YARD CD 002. Companion to Disco 3000, made on the same classic Italian quartet tour with John Gilmore, Michael Ray (trumpet) and the minimal but perfect Luqman Ali (drums). Ra himself plays piano and electronic keyboards, including the mysterious Crumar Mainman, which Ra describes as ‘like a piano, organ, clavichord, cello, violin and brass instruments’ and which also, importantly, has a facility for pre-programmed bass-lines and electronic percussion - which Ra uses constantly and to great effect in this small ensemble setting - and seldom, if ever, elsewhere. The best of this collection (most of CD1) is luminous: very electronic, often rhythmical and melodic, always economical and making every sound count. These tracks are like no other jazz ensemble and, although recognisable as Ra – who else could think of, and then get away with, this – unlike any other Ra ensemble either. Ra makes the machines do amazing, visionary, things while the band exercises restraint, remaining always in focus. Between, there are piano, saxophone, trumpet and drum vignettes, fresh and perfectly judged; this really was a fine band. This places the original vinyl release (and related releases: Sound Mirror and Disco 300) back into the context of the concerts from which they were drawn. An important addition to the Sun Ra canon since it is a rare document of an unusual Ra project that produced three classic late ‘70s LPs. Beautifully packaged and well annotated. SPECIAL OFFER. This with partner DISCO 3000 double £25

From "On Jupiter": "Fourth album in this ultra-deluxe (and fully authorized) Sun Ra/El Saturn reissue program by Artyard. Originally issued as El Saturn 101679, recorded on 10/16/79, never reissued before in any form. " On Jupiter is near ideal as an introduction to the musical worlds of Sun Ra. It has a magical mix of colours from Sun Ras varied palette. Beneath its compelling surface lie many layers of musical detail, and numerous hints as to where Sun Ra was coming from and where he was heading. It combines real depth with beauty and hits you the first time you hear it. On Jupiter represents Sun Ras closest encounter with the world of disco. In the late 1970s he made other albums which also gesture in this direction -- Lanquidity has a jazz-rock feel while remaining firmly part of the Ra omniverse, this is true too of Disco 3000 despite its title. On Jupiter really has only one track which fits the disco tag -- UFO -- but this piece is such a strong statement that it becomes the centre of gravity of the album. The title track, On Jupiter, features Marshall Allens oboe and Sun Ras piano, along with guitars and bass and multi-layered percussion. This is the first appearance on record of this piece, afterwards to remain a frequently performed item in the Arkestras book. Sun Ra would reportedly rehearse his band to the point of exhaustion, but in the studio his was usually a one-take approach, close to a concert performance. This did not necessarily mean that every album appeared in the form it was recorded. On Jupiter , like Lanquidity (but unlike Disco 3000 , essentially a live recording) owes a lot of its final sound to post-production. The album was mixed by Michael Ray, who layered in prerecorded material with that produced in the studio -- Sun Ra sent Ray back to the Arkestra base during the mixing session, and Ray returned with a handful of tapes. Close listening would suggest that some of the guitar and percussion and possibly some vocals were added in this way." -- Chris Trent. All Artyard Sun Ra LP releases are issued in cooperation with ESP-Disk and Ihnfinity Is, along w/ the approval of Marshall Allen & the current members of the Arkestra."

Thanks for the Tinariwen recommendation on this thread. This album is great! These nomads can really create a groove. The Mande Variations by Toumani Diabate is wonderful too.

I would respectfully offer another viewpoint. And I may be in the minority, but I really like Ra's lectures/interviews. The second disc of LOST REEL vol. 1 is an exceptionally rare treasure. When John Szwed had tantalizingly described Sonny's class at UC Berkeley in his great bio, he mentioned that tape records were expressly not allowed, so it's a real treat to have this recording. I can understand why many would rather just listen to the music, but I find this UCB lecture especially entertaining. Ra's humor, intricate wordplay, baffling hermeneutics, street parables, koan contradictions, and generally wonderful non-sense. Fascinating stuff. As Szwed writes, "Sun Ra the southern black man, the jazz musician, the reluctant leader, the recipient of outer-space wisdom, the messenger, the militant, the hippie icon, the avant-gardist, was now Sun Ra, visiting lecturer." (p. 295) Lon, you also mentioned some bonuses from Transparency. I did get the bonus live DVD. What other bonus stuff are you aware of? Thanks... I can easily see how Ra's lectures could be hard to take for some people, but I see them as a fascinating glimpse into the process of myth-building. As long as you look at it not as literal teachings, but as a tapestry of ideas being woven into a mythos, it becomes interesting. I found as I tried to absorb what he was saying, I could even see some parallels to how he builds his music. It's as if his thought process in building his myth structures was much the same as his composition... he weaves the Bible, ancient Greek myth and other scholarly subject matter into his lectures in much the same way he weaves Ellington, African folk music... etc... into his own musical compositions. It's a peek into Blount's approach of music as myth. I'm with you on that, like that view on the lecture. It is a fascinating look at the Sun Ra myth concept, that is also much described in the book by John Szwed - Space Is The Place.

Here it is: http://personal.ecu.edu/mccartyr/13-month.htm

From Amazon: "Unfortunately, the release date for the item(s) listed below was changed by the supplier, and we need to provide you with a new estimated delivery date based on the new release date: Sun Ra (Artist) "Media Dream [Live]" [Audio CD] Estimated arrival date: 06/03/08 - 13/03/08"

I wonder when "Universe in Blue" will be released? http://search2.downtownmusicgallery.com/lo..._05_31_22_32_04 http://www.answers.com/topic/universe-in-b...t=entertainment

Lonnie Johnson is the man, some of my favourites: And these records will make you happy: Henry Thomas Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers

Don't know if this has been posted: http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/ra&aacm.htm

Here is more information on the Horseshoe Tavern set: http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=txj...p%3Bincl_cs%3D1 and the 28-CD set from the Detroit Jazz Center concerts in 1980/81: http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=s6j...%3Bformat%3Dall Tracklisting for the "New Horizons": http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/record_po...?record_id=4929 "The Universe Sent Me" is soon coming: http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=tv6...lter%3DSun%2BRa

Recently ordered: I'm in a Duke mood right now!

A story on the Newport Concert is here: http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/articles/newprt69.htm

More new reissues that are coming soon: DVD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Norman-Granz-Prese...8023&sr=1-5

Secrets of the Sun is one you mentioned, and What's New and Out There A Minute (which has been on CD in the past and may be from the same sessions as Secrets of the Sun) come to mind. Evidence had planned some years ago to reissue "Secrets of the Sun", but could not find the Master Tapes. It's a great one, and should get a new release: http://www.the-temple.net/sunradisco/secrets.html Some 70's classic Saturn's/Impule that should be reissued too: The Antique Blacks Astro Black Horizon Universe in Blue Omniverse Discipline 27-II

Just ordered these: Looking forward to some great listening. Since I am Norwegian, the Peer Gynt Suite wil be especially interesting to hear.

Looks like a dodgy reissue . MSI Music ?? Six tracks - what about the two unissued tracks ? I would love to see a legitimate reissue of this . Very good date , with excellent Decca sound quality too . Don Ellis shines . Had another listen to this one today . As much as I'm partial to early-period Ellis , it would be wrong to give the impression that he towers above the other soloists on this record . Everyone gives a good account of themselves on this recording . The record opens with a David Baker composition whose arresting , dramatic A section makes it the perfect opener . There follows a subtle , beguiling Carla Bley composition , the seamless hand offs between the short solos serving to emphasize that this music is about collective storytelling . A second Bley composition follows , one whose playful , West Indian-like melody gives way to less thematic blowing . The longest track on the album follows , a version of Brownie's Sandu . This " Blues In The Space Age " showcases Russell's blues playing , with his use of trills and dissonant clusters and his harmonic choices in general , making any Byard or Monk fan feel right at home . Next up is a version of Tune Up , which not atypically , becomes a Cherokee-style chops demo , especially Ellis' Harmon-muted solo .The last track on the album is a real headlong swinger by Russell featuring Dave Young's tenor . Young , who is fine throughout the date , uncoils one of the best solos on the whole record . Maddeningly , the track gets a fast fade out after three minutes , leaving the listener to imagine the solos Ellis , Baker and Russell might have taken with that much swinging momentum having been built up . And it is one groovy cover on this album too:

Honest Jon's got it too: http://new.honestjons.com/shop.php?pid=31551