Sun Ra Tapeography
Part 2: 1975-1980
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach) (Ra, p prelude)
Lightnin' (Ellington) (Ebah-mellophone; Ebah-muted tp)
Slippery Horn (Ellington)
King Porter Stomp (Morton) (Gilmore-ts; Ebah-plunger muted tp; Abdullah-tp)
Moonship Journey (Ra) (calypso version, feat. Eddie Thomas and June Tyson; includes Third
Heaven with Ra-voc; Danny Davis-as)
Journey to Saturn (Ra)
Outer Space Employment Agency (Ra) (Ra, Tyson, and SEV-voc; Ra, 2 Mini-Moogs)
Shadow World (Ra) (well executed ens; Ra, org; Gilmore-falsetto ts; Davis-as; Allen-as; Omoe-bcl;
Ra-keyb; Ebah-mellophone; Ra-keyb; Gilmore-falsetto ts; perc; ens)
Space is the Place (Ra) (ens voc; cuts off just before the end)
Ra-keyb, org, 2 Mini-Moog syns, voc; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg, mellophone, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Field (Fielder) Floyd-tp; Brother Ahh (Robert Northern)-Frh; Marshall Allen-as, ob; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Ali Moran-d; Jimmy Johnson-d; C. Scoby Stroman-perc; June Tyson-voc; Space Ethnic Voices, voc. including Eddie Thomas (Thomas Thaddeus). [Simosko, with corrections by rlc and Abdullah]
This was a two-week gig and was followed by a trip to Pittsburgh (possibly a 4-hour performance at the University of Pittsburgh, according to Pleshar). Ronnie Boykins and John Ore played bass during the gig, but neither is audible on this tape. Shadow World solo could be by Brother Ahh on French horn instead of Ebah on mellophone. [Abdullah]
Abdullah says that Charles Stephens and Dick Griffin were working with Ra on trombone in 1975 and that Pat Patrick was around in the 1975-1976 period. They may show up on other tapes. C. Scoby Stroman made the subsequent Pittsburgh gig but did not work with the Arkestra after that. Marshall Allen was already playing kora at this time.
In the later half of 1975 and the beginning of 1976, the Arkestra worked frequently in the Midwest: the Smiling Dog Saloon in Cleveland, various venues in Chicago, and colleges. They also played in New York and on the East Coast, including possibly the Left Bank Jazz Society in Baltimore (though this last could have come later). [Abdullah]
In the summer of 1976, the Arkestra began their fourth European tour (first since 1973). On July 8, they appeared at the Mutualit in Paris, playing Take the A Train among other pieces. Same lineup as Montreux Festival, with the addition of dancer Ray Sawyer. [Vein]
(The World Is Waiting) For the Sunrise (Ra) *
Of the Other Tomorrow (Ra) *
From Out Where Others Dwell (Ra) *
On Sound Infinity Spheres (Ra) *
The House of Eternal Being (Ra) *
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra) (Tyson-voc)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)/
Gods of the Thunder Realm (Ra) * (really just the perc solos from Love in Outer
Space!)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra) *
King Porter Stomp (Morton)
Take the A Train (Strayhorn) *
Prelude (Ra) *
(personnel announcement)
El Is a Sound of Joy (Ra) *
Watusa (Ra)
Space is the Place (Ra)
(the three encores are not included on this private tape; neither is the Piano Introduction to Take the A
Train)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, solar organ, Moog syn; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Chris Capers-tp; Al Evans-flg; Craig Harris-tb; Vincent Chancey-frh; Reggie Hudgins-ss; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-bassoon, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Tony Bunn-eb; Hayes Burnett-b; Clifford Jarvis-d; Larry Bright-d; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga; June Tyson-voc; Judith Holton-dance; Cheryl Banks-dance. [from Inner City release; personnel were also announced on the tape; Vein lists Abdullah as Leroy Bland and includes Rhonda Patrick, dance]
The encores were presumably left off tape for lack of room; but the smooth transition from King Porter Stomp to Take the A Train (and obvious lack of editing on the tape) suggests that the piano introduction to Take the A Train was not part of the concert. It probably was taped during a rehearsal and spliced in. [Trent] Also, the opening portions of For the Sunrise (before Ra comes on stage) were edited out on the Saturn and Inner City releases. [rlc]
On 7/10/76, the Arkestra played in Pescara, Italy and on 7/11/76, they were in Nemes, France (tunes included The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise, Enlightenment, Take the A Train, and King Porter Stomp). They appeared at the Northsea Jazz Festival (Main Hall, Congress Building, TsGravenhage, Netherlands) for the first time on 7/18. On the 25th they played La Pin de, Juan les Pins, France (photo on front cover of Inner City release). On 8/6 they were in Montreux again; on 8/7 at Arles, France. [Vein] Tapes, anyone?
Introduction (Allen-kora; perc)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
Discipline 27 (Ra)
Shadow World (Ra)
Lightnin' (Ellington)
Watusa (Ra)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Taking a Chance on Chancey #1 (Ra-org; Chancey-frh)
Jazz from an Unknown Planet (Ra)
Take the A Train (Strayhorn)
Space Is the Place (Ra)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Images (Ra)
Theme of the Stargazers - Next Stop Mars - 2nd Stop is Jupiter - Calling Planet
Earth - We Travel the Spaceways (all by Ra)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, rocksichord, solar org, Moog syn; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Chris Capers-tp; Al Evans-flg; Craig Harris-tb; Vincent Chancey-frh; Reggie Hudgins-ss; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Tony Bunn-eb; Hayes Burnett-b; Clifford Jarvis-d; Larry Bright-d; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga; June Tyson-voc, dance; Cheryl Banks-dance; Judith Holton-dance. [Trent]
Throughout July and August 1976, the Arkestra lived in Paris. The second day at Chateauvallon was compensation for another gig that got canceled. [Abdullah]
unidentified title (Allen-ob; perc)
unidentified title (Chancey-frh; ensemble)
From Out Where Others Dwell (Ra)
Images (Ra)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Satellites are Spinning (Ra) *
Rose Room (Williams-Hickman) *
Velvet (Ra)
unidentified title (Allen-as; Gilmore-ts)
Watusa (Ra)
unidentified title (Ra-p; Allen-as; Chancey-frh)
King Porter Stomp (Morton) (all 3 tps)
Slippery Horn (Ellington) (Gilmore-cl)
Opus in Springtime (Ra) (Ra-rocksichord; Gilmore-ts)
El Is a Sound of Joy (Ra) (Abdullah-tp; Ra-rocksichord)
Taking a Chance on Chancey #2 (Ra) (duet: Ra-rocksichord; Chancey-frh)
Face the Music (Ra) (ens. voc.)
Don't Blame Me (McHugh-Fields) (Ra,-org)
Shadow World (Ra)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
An Astro Nation of the United Worlds of Outer Space - We Travel the Spaceways - 2nd
Stop Is Jupiter - Journey to Saturn (all by Ra)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, Rocksichord, solar org, Moog syn; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Chris Capers-tp; Al Evans-flg; Craig Harris-tb; Vincent Chancey-frh; Reggie Hudgins-ss; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Tony Bunn-eb; Hayes Burnett-b; Clifford Jarvis-d, Larry Bright-d; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga; June Tyson-voc, dance; Cheryl Banks-dance; Judith Holton-dance. [personnel similar to Montreux]
The asterisked items were released on Unity, according to Trent. His A/B test indicates they are identical (with the cassette tape acting like another stereo channel for the LP).
Chateauvallon tapes have circulated for a long time; parts of T76.8.24 and 8.25 were listed in the late 70s by German collector Axel Stumpf [Vein].
10/7/76 found the Arkestra at Burton Auditorium, York University, Toronto. The band included the same dance corps (Tyson, Banks, and Holton) as well as Abdullah, Harris, Allen, Gilmore and Patrick. Jacson was playing his Infinity Drum. [Coda, 12/76 issue]
The Arkestra's fabled West African tour took place in February 1977. They were part of the Festival of Arts and Culture (featuring performers from 62 countries, all representative of the African Diaspora) in Lagos, Nigeria. The Arkestra performed at the National Theatre (5000 seats) and at a smaller space in Lagos. This was a high point for everyone. [Abdullah]
During 1977, Hayes Burnett, "Shoobeedoo", and Ronnie Boykins (who kept playing sporadically with the Arkestra until his death) were on bass at different times. Trumpets were Ahmed Abdullah and Akh Tal Ebah; Michael Ray came in in the fall and Ebah was out after November. [Abdullah]
ballad
St. Louis Blues (Handy)
Sophisticated Lady (Carney-Mills-Ellington)
untitled blues (Ra)
untitled original (Ra)
Take the A Train (Strayhorn)
untitled original (Ra)
Trying to Put the Blame on Me (Ra)
untitled original (Ra)
Ra-p (and voc on Trying to Put the Blame); June Tyson and poss. John Gilmore-voc (on Trying to Put the Blame only). [rlc]
(side A)
Disco 3000 (Ra) [this tape comes in at 9:20 after the start of
Saturn CMIJ78, and continues past the end of the drum solo with
Ra synth, Gilmore outside ts, Ray tp. - 26:12 total on this tape]
unidentified (Ra) [Ra p, Gilmore ts, - balladic, Ra outside p, Ray tp
over definite rhythm, theme develops]
Sky Blues (Ra) [the first 2:35 appears on the single Saturn 2100B:
the tape continues with Ra p, Gilmore ts, a total of 8:02 on
this side ...
(side 2)
... and concludes with another 1:17 on this side (a slight
indication here that the first-generation tape might possibly
contain this piece complete: there's a tape break here with a
3-second rewind]
Friendly Galaxy (Ra) [theme, Ra p, Ray muted tp, 7:50]
Third Planet (Ra) [duration 6:20; as Saturn CMIJ78]
Friendly Galaxy (Ra) [reprise, 1:13; as Saturn CMIJ78: the LP edits
out the applause between this and the next piece, which were
consecutive]
Dance Of The Cosmo Aliens (Ra) [as Saturn CMIJ78]
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra) [Ra synth, Ray tp]
(end of tape)
Sun Ra Quartet: Sun Ra-p,syn; Michael Ray-tp; John Gilmore-ts; Luqman Ali-d. Teatro Ciak, Milan. 23 January 1978.
Some occasional strange volume and stereo channel effects indicate that while this is definitely an audience tape (and very poor quality at that), the sound quality in the hall was bad at some points, too.
Listening reveals that all of the material on Saturn CMIJ78 comes from this concert, but that none of the Italian material from Saturn 19783 or 19782 is to be found here.
[This entry entirely from Chris Trent. Added to the Tapeography 24 December 1996 by Moudry.]
Introduction (Allen-kora)
untitled piece (perc, fl, tb, tp)
When There Is No Sun (Ra)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
Discipline 27 (Ra)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra)
Take the A Train (Strayhorn)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
King Porter Stomp (Morton)
unidentified piano solo
unidentified blues (Ra and rhythm only)
Images (Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; unidentified-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, kora; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-keyb, voc; unknown-b; poss. Luqman Ali-d; unknown-cga; June Tyson-voc. [Trent]
Body and Soul (Heyman-Green-Sour-Eyton) (Gilmore-ts; Ra-org)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson) (Gilmore-cl; Ray-tp; Gilmore-ts)
Lightnin' (Ellington) (Gilmore-cl)
The Arkestra: Ra-org; Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Craig Harris-tb; Tony Bethel-tb; Vincent Chancey-frh; Marshall Allen-as; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Eloe Omoe-bcl; James Jacson-bsn, perc; Luqman Ali-d; Atakatune-cga; Cheryl Banks-dance; Judith Holton (Wisteria)-dance; Mickey Davidson-dance. [rlc with additions and corrections by Abdullah, who has a photo taken at this gig]
Abdullah was in and out of the Arkestra at this time.
Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
When There Is No Sun (Ra)
Discipline 27 (Ra) (Ra interview)
unidentified title (Ra-p)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Limehouse Blues (Braham-Furber)
Christopher Columbus (Razaf-Berry)
There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of) (Ra)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson)
The Sound Mirror (Ra) (Ra interview)
(announcer comments)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Ra interview)
Satellites are Spinning (Ra) (incomplete)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Walter Miller-tp; prob. Tony Bethel-tb; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl; prob. Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p; unidentified-b; prob. Luqman Ali-d; June Tyson-voc, dance; Cheryl Banks-dance. [Radio announcements, plus identifications by Trent and rlc]
From 1978 to 1982 the Arkestra worked regularly at the Squat Theatre in New York City. A number of these concerts were taped by Saturn and some material was released, but it stands to reason that there are concert tapes of other performances. Michael Shore recalls that on one occasion the brass section consisted of Michael Ray-trumpet; Al Evans-trumpet; Ray Draper-tuba ... and Bill Davis-tuba.
King Porter Stomp (Morton) (3:35)
Blues (Ra) (7:45)
Sound Mirror / Of Other Tomorrows Never Known (Ra) (14:20)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson) (2:35)
We Travel the Spaceways (5:45)
The Arkestra: personnel unidentified.
unidentified titles
Shadow World (Ra)
The Sound Mirror (Ra)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
King Porter Stomp (Morton)
The Arkestra: Ra-keyb; Eddie Gale-tp; Michael Ray-tp; prob. Vincent Chancey-frh; Marshall Allen-as, fl, perc; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Eloe Omoe-fl, bcl; poss. Julian Pressley-bs; James Jacson-Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, bsn; poss. Damon Choice-vib; poss. Dale Williams-eg; poss. Richard Williams-b; prob. Luqman Ali-d; unknown-d. [Iannapollo; probables from rlc]
untitled improvisation (Ra-org; Ray-tp)
Face the Music / Make Another Mistake (Ra) (SEV-voc; Tyson and SEV-voc; Williams-eg;
Ray-tp)
Images (Ra) (Ray-tp; Gilmore-ts)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) (the later march theme with old tune superimposed; Ra-voc;
Tyson-voc; marching around; Ra- org; incomplete)
Pleiades (Ra) (Allen-fl; poss. Thompson-fl; incomplete)
When There Is No Sun (Ra) (ens voc; fragment)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) Ra-declamation; Thomas-voc; ens laughter (more convincing than usual); ens
crying)
This World Is Not My Home (Ra) / Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (trad.)
Ra-declamation; ens responsory)
Angel Race (Ra) (funky a cappella opening, ens voc; perc; marching; Ali and other drummer)
An Astro Nation of the United Worlds of Outer Space (Ra) (Ra-voc; ens voc; marching)
Interstellar Low Ways (Ra) (Ra-org; Gilmore-ts; Ray-tp)
Journey to Outer Space / There are Other Worlds They Have Not Told You Of / Third
Heaven / Why Go to the Moon? (all Ra) (a cappella whispering with Ra, Thomas and ens)
unidentified title (Ra-org intro; fragment)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; poss. Eddie Gale-tp; Tony Bethel-tb; Vincent Chancey-Frh; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; prob. Eloe Omoe-as, bcl, fl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, perc; Ra-org, voc; Damon Choice-vib; Dale Williams-eg; poss. Richard Williams-b; Luqman Ali-d; unidentified-d; Space Ethnic Voices: June Tyson-voc, dance; prob. Judith Holton (Wisteria)-voc, dance; prob. Cheryl Banks-voc, dance; Eddie Thomas (Thomas Thaddeus)-voc, dance. [rlc]
untitled improvisation (Ra-p; Tyson-scat singing)
Ra-p; June Tyson-voc. [rlc]
Over the Rainbow (Harburg-Arlen) (3:27) (r)
blues (Ra-p; tp)
Prelude in C# Minor (Rachmaninov)
unidentified title (Ra-keyb; tps)
When There Is No Sun (Ra) / Space Is the Place (Ra) (4:33) (r)
Door to the Cosmos (Ra) / Hail, Hail, the GangUs All Here (trad.) / We Travel the
Spaceways (Ra) (6:05) (r)
unidentified title (Ra-p)
unidentified title (tp; Ra-keyb)
Sleeping Beauty (Ra)
Greetings from the 21st Century (Ra)
Ra-p, voc; Walter Miller-tp, voc; Michael Ray-tp, voc; Curt Pulliam-tp, voc. [Iannapollo and Trent]
unidentified title (Allen-ob; perc; tb; eg)
announcement
unidentified title (ensemble; Choice-vib)
Strange World (Ra) (Tyson-voc)
Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra)
The World is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
Discipline 27 (Ra)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Springtime Again (Ra)
The Shadow World (Ra) (r)
unidentified title (Ra-org; Gilmore-ts) (r)
Honeysuckle Rose (Waller-Razaf) (r)
Watusa (Ra) (an arrangement played in 1979/1980)
Space is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (r)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra) (r) (edited on the radio broadcast)
unidentified title (Ra-p solo) (r)
unidentified blues (r)
King Porter Stomp (Morton)
Destination Unknown (Ra) (Ra-keyb; Allen-as; ens.)
Strange Celestial Road (Ra)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, syn, voc; Walter Miller-tp; Michael Ray-tp; Curt Pulliam-tp; Tony Bethel-tb; Marvin Consell (?)-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Hutch Jones-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-as, bcl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, perc; Damon Choice-vib; Taylor Richardson-eg; Skeeter McFarland-eg; "Scop"-b; Robert Barry-d; Reg McDonald-d; Atakatune (Stanley Morgan)-cga; June Tyson-voc, dance (and Evelyn Smont (?)-dance). [Trent; personnel put together from radio announcement and concert announcement]
An incomplete private recording (90 min.) of part of this concert has been misidentified as coming from Moers in 1981 [Trent].
unidentified title (perc; Allen, kora; eg and perc)
Space Is the Place (Ra)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
Discipline 27 (Allen, as; Omoe, bcl; tp)
The Shadow World (Ra)
Springtime Again (Ra)
Yeah Man! (Sissle, Henderson)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson)
Watusa (Ra)
Lady Bird (Dameron) / Half Nelson (M. Davis)
King Porter Stomp (Morton)
Space Is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways / Destination Unknown / 2nd Stop Is Jupiter
(Ra)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra)
Strange Celestial Road (Ra)
Somewhere over the Rainbow (Arlen, Harburg)
Outer Spaceways Inc. / Sun Ra and his Band from Outer Space (Ra)
The Arkestra: Personnel similar to Moers concert (T79.6.4). [Trent]
Watusa (called Watusi in those days) is the arrangement heard in 1979-1980 [Trent].
unidentified title (Allen-oboe; perc)
Pleiades (Ra) (fl duet)
unidentified title (ensemble)
Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
Discipline 27-II (Ra)
Shadow World (Ra)
Springtime Again (Ra)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson)
Yeah Man! (Sissle, Henderson)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
unidentified keyboard solo
Space Is the Place (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
Over the Rainbow (Arlen, Harburg)
unidentified blues (Ra)
unidentified piano solo
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Destination Unknown / Greetings from the 21st Century / Rocket Number Nine (Ra)
Arkestra: personnel similar to Moers, T79.6.4.
unidentified title (perc)
Strange World / Black Myth (Ra)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
Discipline 27 (Ra)
The Shadow World (Ra)
unidentified title (ens, keyb, tp)
Images (Ra)
Yeah Man! (Sissle, Henderson)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson)
unidentified title (Allen-as; Ra-keyb)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Space Is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
unidentified blues (Ra-p)
Springtime Again (Ra)
unidentified title (ens; Gilmore-ts; d; as duet; Omoe-bcl; Allen-ob)
UFO (Ra, Richardson, Clarke)
unidentified title (as; ens; eg; Gilmore-ts; ens)
The Arkestra: Personnel similar to T79.6.4. [Trent]
In early fall of 1979 (most likely), the Arkestra played the first Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Ann Arbor Jazz and Blues Festival (it was their fourth appearance there; see photo on album jacket for Of Mythic Worlds). On both occasions, the trumpet section consisted of Ahmed Abdullah, Michael Ray, Walter Miller, and Eddie Gale (the only time all four played together). (Gale also recalls the first Atlanta Jazz Festival, which he says was recorded.) At Ann Arbor, elaborate stage machinery allowed Sun Ra to rise up onto the stage, accompanied by lots of smoke. Around this time, the Arkestra also played the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, with Miller and Abdullah in the trumpet section. [Abdullah]
At some point in 1979, the Arkestra played Panama Red's in Champaign Illinois. Michael Ray played an unaccompanied solo with his echo effects (including fadeouts) and floored the audience [Jeff Beer]. Tapes, anyone?
On 9/20/79, Ra put on a solo piano concert at Carnegie Hall. Oregon was also on the bill. [Fitzgerald]
To be released by DIW. The lecture was published in Hambone #10. [Graves]
1st set:
unidentified title (perc, ob, b, bs, fls, tp, eg, vib, tb, t and tb, ens)
unidentified title (perc; Jacson, Infinity Drum; d; ens; Allen, as)
Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
Astro Black (Ra) (ens; cello; Tyson, voc; ens)
Pleiades (Ra) (fl duet)
unidentified title (vib duet; eg; b; bs; perc; bs and Omoe, bcl; tp; perc)
Mystery, Mr. Ra (Tyson and Ra, voc; Ra appears after 50 minutes of introduction)
Discipline 27 (Ra) (Allen, as; Ra, conducting)
unidentified title (vib; b; bs; ens; excellent outside Gilmore, ts)
unidentified title (Ra, p solo)
The Way You Look Tonight (Ra, solo p intro; poss. Ray, voc; Gilmore, ts)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; eg)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson)
unidentified title (Ra, p; eg)
Images (Ra) (Ra, solo p intro; Ray, tp; Ra, p; Gilmore, ts)
unidentified title (Ra, p; eg; tp; d; ens)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra) (Allen, fl; Ra, org)
Watusa (Ra) (eg; perc; Jacson, Infinity Drum; the 1979-1980 version)
Door of the Cosmos (Ra) (ens voc)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (Ra, declamation)
2nd set:
unidentified title (Allen, kora; perc)
Friendly Galaxy (Ra) (tp; vib; eg; bs)
unidentified title (ens; Ray, tp; Allen, as; b; ens; Williams?, bs; ens)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra) (Tyson and ens, voc)
unidentified title (Wilson and Choice, vib)
unidentified title (eg)
Strange World / Black Myth (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
We're Living in the Space Age (Ra) (Tyson, voc; sax ens)
Ancient Days and Myths (Ra) (Tyson, voc; Omoe, bcl ; Ra finally appears, voc)
Tomorrow Never Comes (Ra) (Ra, voc; Tyson, voc)
Keep Your Sunny Side Up (Ra; not the standard) (Ra, declamation; ens voc; Thompson and Williams?, bs duet;
conducted ens)
unidentified title (vib)
Three Little Words (Kalmar-Ruby) (poss. Ray, voc; Gilmore, ts)
Halloween in Harlem (Ra) (Ray, tp)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
unidentified blues (eg; Ra, p)
unidentified title (Ra, syn solo)
unidentified title (Ra) (Ra, org; Allen, as)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Ra, org; Jacson, Infinity Drum; Williams?, bs; perc; dance)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra)
Space Is the Place (Ra) / We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
Hit That Jive, Jack (Calloway)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; poss. Eddie Gale-tp; poss. Craig Harris-tb; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl, kora; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; prob. Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl; poss. Kenny Williams-bs; James Jacson-bsn, ob, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Ra-p, org, syn, voc; prob. Harry Wilson-vib; prob. Damon Choice-vib; poss. Skeeter McFarland-eg; poss. Taylor Richardson-eg; unidentified-clo; unidentified-b; poss. Luqman Ali-d; unidentified-d; prob. Atakatune (Stanley Morgan)-cga, perc; June Tyson-voc. [Trent with possibles by rlc]
"Most of it is far out improvisation, really excellent" [Webber]
"It was a three or four night event. A guy from Boston came down with a huge light show. Real lights – it the equipment was so large we hoisted it up the elevator shaft." [Graves]
Soundscape was a real, physical club at this time, located at 52nd Street and 10th Avenue. Bradford Graves and Verna Gillis have not been able to locate their tapes of this concert as of yet. They say, however, that there are additional recordings of Sun Ra concerts made at Soundscape between 1979 and 1985. Abdullah was not present at the 1979 concerts but recalls performing at Soundscape in 1980 or 1981, a period during which he was going to school. [rlc]
unidentified blues (Ra) (Scott-bs)
Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin)
Limehouse Blues (Braham-Furber)
Watusa (Ra) (1979-1980 arrangement; Ra-p; incomplete)
Hymn to the Sun (Ra) (Allen-fl; Thompson-fl)
A Lost Horizon (Ra) (wild Ray-tp)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (incorrectly identified as R21-IIS on broadcast)
Destination Unknown (Ra)
Shadow World (Ra)
unidentified title (Ra) (rather Omniversal)
Cocktails for Two (Coslow-Johnston) (fades to announcer)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb, voc; Michael Ray-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Noel Scott-as, bs, perc; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Kenny Williams-ts, bs, perc; Chris Henderson-d; Eric "Samurai" Walker-d; June Tyson-voc. [Announced on French broadcast; thanks to Chris Trent for a tape; Scott's baritone solo on the blues is mentioned by the French announcer]
Is there really nothing else from 1980?
8:00 PM Concert:
untitled
untitled
untitled
Auld Ang Syne [trad.]
Astro Black [Sun Ra]
Tapestry from an Asteroid [Sun Ra]
Along Came Ra [Sun Ra] / Mystery, Mr Ra [Sun Ra]
Discipline 27 [Sun Ra]
untitled
Island in the Sun [Sun Ra]
A Foggy Day [George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin]
How Am I to Know? [King, Parker]
Images [Sun Ra]
Poinciana [Bernier, Simon]
There Will Never Be Another You [composer?]
Vincent's Top Drawer [Sun Ra]
Stardust from Tomorrow [Sun Ra]
Enlightenment [Hobart Dotson]
Somebody Else's Idea [Sun Ra]
I Wouldn't Make a World Like This [Sun Ra] / Bad Truth [Sun Ra] / The Impossible Is Your Only Hope [Sun Ra]
Sea of Immortality [Sun Ra]
untitled
They'll Come Back [Sun Ra] / There Are Other Worlds [Sun Ra] / Take the Big Gamble [Sun Ra]
11:00 PM Concert:
untitled
When There Is No Sun [Sun Ra]
Are You Spotless? [Sun Ra]
Discipline 27-II [Sun Ra]
I Am the Temptor [Sun Ra] / I Use Planets for Stepping Stones [Sun Ra] /Auld Ang Syne [trad.]
Big John's Special [Horace Henderson]
El Is the Sound of Joy [Sun Ra]
Beyond the Purple Star Zone [Sun Ra]
The World of Africa [Sun Ra]
Rose Room [Williams, Hickman]
Hallowe'en in Harlem [Sun Ra]
Journey to Saturn [Sun Ra] / Saturn's Rings [Sun Ra] / You Got to Head Out to Space One Day [Sun Ra] / Never Never Land [composer?]
Everything Is Space [Sun Ra\
Fate in a Pleasant Mood [Sun Ra]
Strange Worlds [Sun Ra] / Black Myth [Sun Ra]
Medicine for a Nightmare [Sun Ra]
unititled
Rocket Number Nine Take off for the Planet Venus [Sun Ra] / The Space Age Is Here to Stay [Sun Ra] / Face the Music [Sun Ra]
St. Louis Blues [W.C. Handy]
Watusai [Sun Ra]
Sunology [Sun Ra / The Lion of the Heavens [Sun Ra]
Planet Earth [Sun Ra]
Third Heaven [Sun Ra] / Why Go to the Moon? [Sun Ra] / We Travel the Spaceways [Sun Ra]
Imagination [composer?]
3:00 AM Concert:
On Green Dolphin Street [Borislav Kaper, Ned Washington]
untitled
Myth vs. Reality [Sun Ra]
Strange Worlds [Sun Ra] / Black Myth [Sun Ra]
untitled
Tea for Two [Cæsar, Youmans]
Blue Lou [Edgar Sampson]
King Porter Stomp [Jelly Roll Morton]
Yeah, Man! [Noble Sissle, Fletcher Henderson]
Deep Purple [DeRose, Parrish]
Keep Your Sunny Side Up [Sun Ra]
Interstellar Low Ways [Sun Ra]
The Satellites Are Spinning [Sun Ra]
Stompin' at the Savoy [Chick Webb]
Mayan Temples [Sun a]
unidentified title
Queer Notions [Coleman Hawkins]
Willow Weep for Me [Anne Ronell]
Space Lonliness [Sun Ra]
'Round Midnight [Thelonious Monk]
Limehouse Blues [Braham, Furber]
Discipline 90 [Sun Ra]
Space Is the Place [Sun Ra] / We Travel the Spaceways [Sun Ra]
Greetings from the 21st Century [Sun Ra]
Strange Celestial Road [Sun Ra]
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp, voc; possibly Walter Miller-tp; Vincent Chancey-frn; Tony Bethel-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, kora; John Gilmore-ts, voc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Sun Ra-org, syn,p, voc; Skeeter McFarland, Taylor Richardson-eg; Richard Williams-b; Luqman Ali-d; June Tyson-voc, dance.
Beyond the Purple Star Zone was drawn from this marathon stand by the Arkestra, as well as (parts of?) God's Private Eye. Help on identification of the trumpet player and any other Arkestra members possibly present on the recordings would be greatly appreciated.
[Data and entry by Moudry, 000308.]
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