Saturn Biographies:
Marc Minsker

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Born in Charleston, West Virginia. Moved to Chesnut Hill, PA in 1984, and lived one mile from Morton Street (although I did not know about Ra at the time). Headed south, received a BA in English from University of South Carolina in 1994, and began working on a MA in English. My academic interests are primarily African-American Literature, Southern writers, and the Surrealist movement, and my MA thesis focuses on the Neo-Slave Narratives of Charles Johnson. In February of 1997, I presented the Matthew Shipp/William Parker Duo at USC -- the first in a series of 14 jazz concerts I've organized at the University through the Creative Music & Film Society. Other concerts have included The Sam Rivers Trio, Leo Smith, McPhee/Bisio Duo, Fred Van Hove, DKV Trio, Gerry Hemingway Quartet, and ROVA. In addition to presenting music, I also host a weekly jazz show on 90.5 WUSC, play piano/guitar in several bands (Third Eye Lounge, Siberian Mine Blast, The Shandon Jazz Group), and teach at Benedict College--a private, black college. In my spare time, I write for several publications (i.e. British zine Terrascope) and I design web pages. Although I have been listening to the Arkestra since 1990, I have only seen them perform twice.

Favorite Ra LPs: Astro Black & Crystal Spears
Favorite Ra quote: "Be careful about what you play...every note, every beat, be aware that it comes back to you. And if you play something you yourself don't understand, then that's bad for you and for the people too."
Favorite Arkestra players: Pat Patrick and Ronnie Boykins
Favorite Ra tune: Watusa (Nubians of Plutonia version) & Intergalactic Motion (from Outerspace Ways Inc.)

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