Isis Sun / Samurai Celestial
Carrot Top Records SAKI 009
Sun Ra; Isis Sun; Unifying Rhythm; Nation Time; Sun Ra (edit version)
Samarai Celestial-d, kyb, programming, voc; Sharif Rashied-fl (1, 2, 5)
One of the great challenges artists confront is how to properly acknowledge influences while simultaneously developing and establishing an individual artistic identity. With the passing of Sun Ra in 1993, fans feared Sun Ra's complex musical legacy and intergalactic theology would be lost. However, the Sun Ra Arkestra and its individual members have continued to pursue the teachings of Ra and are working hard to ensure their teacher and leader is not forgotten. With the release of his debut CD, Isis Sun, Sun Ra Arkestra drummer Samarai Celestial takes this challenge head on and manages to not only pay tribute to Sun Ra, but establishes his own unique musical identity in the process.

Sun Ra, the CD's opening tribute to the late great master, drifts in on the delicate Middle Eastern strains of Sharif Rashied's wood flute, which promptly interlocks with Samarai's insistent vocals, chants and drums. Samarai becomes a stellar shaman telling the uninformed of the greatness of Sun Ra and his music. As the tune progresses, Samarai provides some interesting keyboard flourishes, not unlike what one might hear on Sun Ra's My Brother the Wind, vol. 2. It is a fitting tribute.

The remainder of the CD is made up of extended lessons in rhythm. Samarai is, after all, a drummer at heart and he's not kidding around when it comes to beats. Isis Sun weaves flute, multiple polyphonic drum patterns, and funky keyboard flourishes in a dizzying array. Samarai really pumps up the jams on Unifying Rhythm, a twenty-minute rhythm manifesto that orders us to wake up and unite the universe as one under a groove. The song deftly mixes sampled alarms and voices with synths, thunderous drums, tight percussion, cymbals, whistles and hip-hop beats. Samarai produces so much rhythm in the tune that you'll think there's a ten man drum corps in your stereo. Meanwhile, Samarai delivers the message that "we got to get it together" through rhythm and get past the evils of the world.

By the time Nation Time rolls around, you feel like you've been schooled in drumming. However, the lesson has just begun. Nation Time opens as a foreboding spoken word piece about the need for worldwide change, but rapidly transforms into a sinister synthesized string ensemble and a frenzied synth and drum assault. Explosions are heard in the background over pounding drums and eerie alien noises. Then, the tune abruptly changes pace again and ends with what one might imagine drifting blissfully through space might sound like.

This is a CD unlike any you have ever heard. It is futuristic, yet there are elements of the past woven in as well. The student has learned well from the master and now seems ready to make his own voice heard. Highly recommended.

--Jim Johnson


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