Sun Ra Tapeography
Part 1: 1964-1974

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Space Mates (Ra)
Other People's Worlds (Ra)
Water Lilies on Mars (Ra)

Sun Ra and his Arkestra: Al Evans-flh; Chris Capers-tp; Teddy Nance-tb; Bernard Pettaway-tb; Sir Harold (Black Harold)-fl; Marshall Allen-as; Danny Davis-as; Farrell (Pharoah) Sanders-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Ra-p; Alan Silva-b; Ronnie Boykins-b; Clifford Jarvis-d; Jimmy Johnson-d; Art Jennkins-space voice. [Hames and Vein; Capers, Pettaway, and Davis mentioned by Don Heckman in his review of this concert, Down Beat, 2/11/65]

Does anyone have a copy of this tape? How about other early concert tapes of the Arkestra? Dare I say Chicago? How about the famous concert at the Indianapolis YMCA in 1957 or 1958? Village Gate, 3/28/65? Slug's from 1966 to 1972? College tours?

Written by Maxine Haller; directed by Jack Marx; music by Sun Ra; sound effects by Morris Markowitz; featuring Virgil Catherine Doyle, Raymond Spino, Jack Marx, and Maxine Haller. Your host: Raymond. "It's a pretty goofy play, definitely late 60s, man....Most of the music (composed and performed by Ra) appears in short 15 second to 1 minute or so segments.... Of course, there's dialogue over most of the music. It's about a strange man who appears in a lodging house. He's a burglar and he steals all their stuff while they try to figure out who it is." Several of the characters tend to speak in rhyming couplets [Pleshar]

1. Overture/fanfare by the Arkestra (30 sec)
2. tb growls and riff, fl riff
3. scraping/plucking strings "sounds like old Henry Kaiser"
4. 2 note riff on electronic celeste
5. horn riff
6. p (with echo) and bcl
7. p solo
8. horn riff with electronic celeste, slow and menacing (1 min +)

Sun Ra and the Arkestra: Ra-p, e-celeste; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts; Robert Cummings-cl; Bernard Pettaway-tb; Ronnie Boykins-. Koto and other strange strings by the Arkestra. [segments listed and described by Pleshar; personnel identified by rlc; I suspect that the drumbeat under the final credits was not supplied by the Arkestra]

In the Spring of 1969, the Arkestra appeared on the West Coast (usually said to be their first visit). They played at UC Berkeley, then did two nights in LA at Dorsey High School Auditorium, 4/12 and 4/13. Supposedly half the audience walked out during the opening number. On May 30 or 31, they appeared at the Detroit Rock and Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. MC-5, The Stooges, and the Amboy Dukes (!) were also on the bill.

unidentified title (4:22)
unidentified title (1:48)
The Shadow World [Sun Ra] (5:37)
Prepare for the journey to other worlds [Sun Ra] (3:07)
Velvet [Sun Ra] (3:14)
Outer space (is a pleasant place) [Sun Ra] (3:38)
untitled outside processional [Sun Ra] (6:57)
Watusi [Pitts, Sherrill] (2:58)
Enlightenment [Hobart Dotson] (2:05)
Somebody else's idea [incomplete] [Sun Ra] (1:50)
Sun Ra & his band from outer space [Sun Ra] (ca. 2:25)

The Arkestra: Ra-Farfisa org, Hohner clavinet, Spacemaster org, voc; Walter Miller-tp; Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, picc; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, ob, perc; Robert Cummings-bcl, perc; Alex Blake-b; Nimrod Hunt-perc; William Brister (Rashid Salim IV)-perc; Lex Humphries-d; Clifford Jarvis-d; June Tyson-voc. [personnel Shore, except that he gives Eloe Omoe as the bass clarinet player; performance also included a light show, according to Chase. Additions by Moudry 20021011]

[My update of the above information is based on a CD of an audience recording of the set. Walter Miller identified himself upon hearing the music and actually sang along with one of his solos (October 2002). My copy lacks the last item, the infectious Sun Ra & his band from outer space. Thanks to John Cottrell. Added 20021011, Moudry.]

Around Christmas 1969, when Tommy Hunter was home for the holidays, the Arkestra played the Red Garter, a Greenwich Village club done up in gay 90s decor. Thompson also remembers this gig. The club is far better known in its current incarnation, the Bottom Line.

unidentified title
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra) *r
Outer Spaceways Incorporated (Ra) (Ra, declamation: "Are you troubled with other Earth problems?"; ens marching) r
Friendly Galaxy No. 2 (Ra) * (long solo by Silva, clo) r
Watusa (Ra) (multi-perc as usual) r
Nothing Is (Ra)
The Satellites are Spinning (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
The World of the Lightning (Ra) *
Black Myth (Ra) *
The Shadows Took Shape
This Strange World
Journey through the Outer Darkness Sky (Ra) *
Ra Ra Ra (Ra)

The Arkestra: Ra-p, Hohner Clavinet, Rocksichord, org, Mini-Moog syn, voc; Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, cnt; Marshall Allen-as, fl, picc, ob, perc; Danny Davis, as, fl, perc; John Gilmore-ts, d, voc; Robert Cummings-bcl, perc; Danny Thompson-bs, fl, bsn; Absholom Ben Shlomo-cl, fl, as; Pat Patrick-bs, bcl, as, ts, fl, cl, perc; James Jacson-cl, fl, ob, perc; Alan Silva-b, clo, vln; Rashid Salim IV (William Brister)-vib, d; Nimrod Hunt-hand drums; John Goldsmith-d, tympani; Lex Humphries-d, perc; June Tyson-dance, voc; Gloristeena Knight (Ife Tayo)-dance, voc; Verta Grosvenor-dance, voc. [Shandar jacket]

The Cosmic Explorer (Ra) *
Friendly Galaxy (Ra)

The Arkestra: Ra-p, Hohner Clavinet, Rocksichord, org, Mini-Moog syn, voc; Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, cnt; Marshall Allen-as, fl, picc, ob, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl, perc; John Gilmore-ts, d, voc; Robert Cummings-bcl, perc; Danny Thompson-bs, fl, bsn; Absholom Ben Shlomo-cl, fl, as; Pat Patrick-bs, bcl, as, ts, fl, cl, perc; James Jacson-cl, fl, ob, perc; Alan Silva-b, clo, vln; Rashid Salim IV (William Brister)-vib, d; Nimrod Hunt-hand drums; John Goldsmith-d, tympani; Lex Humphries-d, perc; June Tyson-dance, voc; Gloristeena Knight (Ife Tayo)-dance, voc; Verta Grosvenor-dance, voc. [Shandar jacket]

Duos (Ra) * (edited on the album)
Strange Dreams (Ra) *
Strange Worlds (Ra) *
Black Myth (Ra) *
It's after the End of the World (Ra) *
In Some Far Off Place (Ra)
Black Forest Myth (Ra) *

Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Ra-Farfisa org, Hohner clavinet, p, Rocksichord, Spacemaster org, Mini-Moog, Hohner electra, voc; Kwame Hadi (Lamont McClamb)-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, picc, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl, cl; John Gilmore, ts, perc; Absholom Ben Shlomo (Virgil Pumphrey)-as, cl, fll; Danny Thompson-as, modified bsn, fl; Pat Patrick-bs, ts, as, cl, bcl, fl, perc; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-ob, bcl; Augustus Browning-English horn; Alan Silva-vln, vla, clo, b; Alejandro Blake Fearon-b; Lex Humphries-d; James Jacson-d, ob, fl; Nimrod Hunt-hand drums; Hazoume-dance, African perc; Math Samba-dance, perc; Ife Tayo-dance, perc; June Tyson-voc. [personnel from album jacket]

Watusa (Ra)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
It's after the End of the World (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
unidentified title with Gilmore solo (Ra)

Ra-org, p, Moog syn; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone; Kwame Hadi, tp; Marshall Allen, as, fl, ob; Danny Davis-as, fl; Absholom ben Shlomo-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; James Jacson-ob, fl, perc; Robert Cummings-bcl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Al Batin Nur (Augustus Browning)-as, ob, Eng hrn; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Alan Silva-b, clo; Alejandro Blake Fearon-b; Lex Humphries-d; Roger Aralamon Hazoume-dancer, perc; Math Samba-dancer, perc; Nimrod Hunt-perc; June Tyson vocal. [Simosko, but- incorrectly dated 10/71 by his source and in previous versions of this tapeography; correct date from Vein]

The Myth-Science Approach (Ra)
Myth versus Reality (Ra) *
Angelic Proclamation (Ra) *
Out in Space (Ra) * (album version is edited; predecessor to Space is the Place; June Tyson-voc; Allen and Davis-as duet; Ra, Mini-Moog; Hadi and Ebah, tp; ensemble; Silva, clo; perc; Gilmore-ts; sax ensemble, faded at end for announcement)

Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Ra, Farfisa org, Hohner clavinet, p, Rocksichord, Spacemaster org, Mini-Moog, Hohner electra, voc; Kwame Hadi (Lamont McClamb)- tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, picc, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl, cl; John Gilmore-ts, perc, Absholom Ben Shlomo (Virgil Pumphrey)-as, cl, fl, Danny Thompson-as, modified bsn, fl; Pat Patrick-bs, ts, as, cl, bcl, fl, perc; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-ob, bcl; Augustus Browning-English horn; Alan Silva-vln, vla, clo, b; Alejandro Blake Fearon-b; Lex Humphries-d; James Jacson-d, ob, fl; Nimrod Hunt-hand drums; Roger Aralamon Hazoume-dance, African perc; Math Samba-dance, perc; Ife Tayo-dance, perc; June Tyson-voc [personnel from album jacket]

Note: Solos attributed to Danny Thompson on modified bassoon could be by Akh Tal Ebah on reed trumpet. There were a number of hybrid noisemakers in the Arkestra at this time. [Schonfield]

1st set:
Drumming ensemble
Walking on the Moon (Ra)
Outer Spaceways Incorporated (Ra)
The Shadow World (Ra)
unidentified title
Watusa (Ra)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
Life Is Splendid (Ra)
Sun Ra and his Band from Outer Space (Ra)
Somewhere There (Ra) (incomplete)

2nd set:
unidentified title
unidentified title (incomplete)
Planet Earth (Ra)
Second Stop Is Jupiter (Ra)
Myth versus Reality (Ra)
It's after the End of the World (Ra)
unidentified title (incomplete)

Sun Ra and the Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Ra-Farfisa org, Hohner clavinet, p, Rocksichord, Spacemaster org, Mini-Moog, Hohner electra, vocal; Kwame Hadi (Lamont McClamb)-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, picc, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl, cl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Absholom Ben Shlomo (Virgil Pumphrey)-as, cl, fl; Danny Thompson-as, bsn, fl; Pat Patrick-bs, ts, as, cl, bcl, fl, eb, perc; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-ob, bcl; Augustus Browning, Jr.-English horn; Alan Silva-violin, viola, cello, b; Alex Blake-b; Lex Humphries-d; James Jacson-d, ob, fl; Nimrod Hunt-hand drums; Roger Aralamon Hazoume-dance, African perc; Math Samba-dance, perc; Gloristeena Knight (Ife Tayo)-dance, perc; June Tyson-voc; Richard Wilkinson-light show. [Tunes courtesy of Julian Vein; Personnel from Schonfield's souvenir program; thanks to Trent for a copy of the program]

Trent also lists a 3 minute interview with Sun Ra on the BBC Jazz Broadcast from 11/9/70.

Collectors: This was a big concert for the Arkestra, their debut in Britain. Does anyone have a better tape? Schonfield says, "It was arranged beforehand that that particular concert should be recorded for release, but in the event the recording mysteriously failed to come out."

The Astro-Infinity Arkestra (17 pieces, incl. 6 drummers and 2 singers) performed at the University of California Jazz Festival, Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley, in mid-May 1971. [Rolling Stone, 5/27/71] Hunter says the band was staying in Berkeley at this time. Sun Ra was writing the Discipline pieces; the band rehearsed a new one every day; but at the UC Jazz Festival "we didn't play anything we rehearsed."

unidentified title
unidentified title
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
unidentified title
Interplanetary Music (Ra)
Why Go to the Moon? (Ra)
I Struck a Match on the Moon (Ra)
recitation by Sun Ra
Sun-Earth Rock (Ra) (incomplete)

The Arkestra: personnel unidentified, but similar to the May concert; incl. Tommy Hunter-d. [Vein]

This tape was sold to Alan Bates by Sun Ra. "As far as I can recall the recording quality was reasonable but the microphone sounded as it if was at the back of the band and picking up the musicians' conversations." [Vein]

Titles and personnel unidentified.

J.P. Widney Junior High was a favorite venue for Horace Tapscott, John Carter, and others. [Szwed]

unidentified title
recitation by Sun Ra
unidentified title
unidentified title
unidentified title
Cosmic of Africa (composer?)

The Arkestra: personnel unidentified, incl. Tommy Hunter-d. [Vein]

This tape was also sold to Black Lion; recording quality similar to that of T71.6.19.

unknown title (feat. Ra)
unknown title (feat. Ra)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
It's after the End of the World (Ra)
unknown title (feat. reeds incl. Gilmore, voc, tp)
Rocket Number 9 (Ra)

The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, Mini-Moog; Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg; Al Batin Nur (Augustus Browning)-English horn; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Danny Davis-as, fl; Larry Northington-as; Istar Sundance-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Hakim Rahim-bs; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Billy Morrow-vib; Lex Humphries-d; Tommy Hunter-d, perc; Aralamon Hazoume-perc, balafon, dance; Nimrod Hunt-perc; Ken Moshesh-cga. Presumably also Richard Wilkinson, light show. [Simosko; Szwed deletes Ebah, adds June Tyson, voc; Tommy Hunter confirms the name "Istar" and says that Sundance couldn't read music, so on certain charts Hunter had to dust off his alto sax and substitute for him]

Dramaten was an opera house in Stockholm; it was packed for this concert. According to Tommy Hunter, Ra made this broadcast in return for cash to help pay for the band's travel. Hunter still has one tape reel in his possession and believes that two others may exist. There were plans to release an edited version of the concert on Saturn but they were abandoned.

Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
unknown title (feat. Ra)
Shadow World (Ra)
unknown title (feat. Ra)
Space is the Place (Ra)
Watusi (Ra) (incomplete)

The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, Mini-Moog syn; Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg; Al Batin Nur (Augustus Browning)-English horn; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Danny Davis-as, fl; Larry Northington-as; Istar Sundance-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Hakim Rahim-bs; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Pat Patrick-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Billy Morrow-vib; Lex Humphries-d; Tommy Hunter-d, perc; Aralamon Hazoume-perc, balafon, dance; Nimrod Hunt-perc; Ken Moshesh-cga; June Tyson-voc. Presumably Richard Wilkinson, light show. [Tommy Hunter says he was on the entire tour; there is some question about how much of the tour Ebah participated in; personnel assumed to be as at Dramaten]

unknown titles

Sun Ra's Intergalactic Research Arkestra: Sun Ra-Mini-Moog syn, org, ep (prob. Rocksichord or Clavinet), p, voc; Kwame Hadi-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Danny Davis-as, fl; Larry Northington-as, perc; Istar Sundance (misspelled "Iston")-as, bsn; John Gilmore-ts, d; Danny Thompson-bs; Pat Patrick-bs, eb; Hakim Rahim-bs, as, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Al Batin Nur-Eng hrn (misidentified as Frh); James Jacson-fl, ob, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Lex Humphries-d; Tommy Hunter-d; Nimrod Hunt-perc; William Morrow-vib; Roger Aralamon Hazoume-balafon, dance; June Tyson-voc, dance; Malik Ramadin-voc, tympani; Art Jenkins-space voice, voc, cga, perc; Wisteria el Moondew (Judith Holton)-dance; Cheryl Banks-dance; Doug Williams-dance; Kevin Massey-dance; Kenneth Alexander-dance; Richard Wilkinson-light show. "Practically everyone also played percussion instruments, sang, and danced." [Gezinus Wolters, Jazz Wereld, Nov-Dec 1971, No. 36]

unidentified title
unidentified title
Somewhere There (Ra) (Tyson- voc)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
unidentified title
Friendly Galaxy No. 2 (Ra)

The Arkestra: Ra-Tiger org, Mini-Moog syn, p; Kwame Hadi-tp, cga; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl; Larry Northington-as, cga; John Gilmore-ts, perc, d; Pat Patrick-bs, eb; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Hakim Rahim-as, fl; Clifford Jarvis-d; Tommy Hunter-d; Lex Humphries-d; June Tyson-voc; Richard Wilkinson-light show. [Vein says personnel similar to the albums made in Egypt]

Another tape sold to Black Lion but never issued. [Vein]

Discipline No. 5 (Ra)
Discipline No. 10 (Ra)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (incomplete)
Discipline No. 15 (Ra)
The Satellites are Spinning (Ra)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra) (Ra-Mini-Moog)
The Outers (Ra( (?)
Adventures Outer Planes (Ra) (?)

The Arkestra: Ra-Tiger org, Mini-Moog syn, p; Kwame Hadi-tp, cga; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl; Larry Northington-as, cga; John Gilmore-ts, perc, d; Pat Patrick-bs, eb; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Hakim Rahim-as, fl; Clifford Jarvis-d; Tommy Hunter-d; Lex Humphries-d; June Tyson-voc; Richard Wilkinson-light show. [Vein says personnel similar to the albums made in Egypt]

Still another tape sold to Black Lion but never issued. [Vein]

Not long after this concert, the Arkestra boarded a flight to Egypt out of Copenhagen.

According to Hunter, Nimrod Hunt and two other musicians were booted out of the Arkestra during this tour. [Szwed]

The tape does not include Space Loneliness No. 2, Discipline 11, and Discipline 15 which were released on Nidhamu. *'d items were released on Horizon.

Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) *
Discipline 2 (Ra) *
The Shadow World (Ra) * (runs longer than on LP)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Third Planet (Ra) *
Space Is the Place (Ra) *
Horizon (Ra) *
Discipline 8 (Ra) *
Watusa (Ra)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Friendly Galaxy No. 2 (Ra)
Why Go to the Moon? (Ra)
unidentified title
[track list from Trent]

The Arkestra: Ra-tiger org, Mini Moog, upright p; Kwame Hadi-tp, cga; Marshall Allen- as, fl, ob, perc; Danny Davis-as, fl; Larry Northington-as, cga; John Gilmore-ts, perc, d; Pat Patrick-bs, eb; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Hakim Rahim-as, fl; Clifford Jarvis-d; Tommy Hunter-d; Lex Humphries-d; June Tyson-voc; Richard Wilkinson-light show. [Geerken; thanks to Webber for pointing out that The Shadow World runs longer on the concert tape]

Hunter says that Lex Humphries was present in Egypt but didn't play a lot. Hadi played conga, but not often; supposedly he was very concerned about his appearance, ala Miles, and didn't want to mess his hands up.

Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Discipline #? (Ra) (Danny Davis, as)
Shadow World (Ra) (Ra, org; Gilmore-ts)
Discipline #? (Ra) (Ebah-tp lead)
unknown march (Ra) (incl. solos by Davis and Omoe, cga solo and Jacson Infinity Drum solo)
Watusa (Ra)
unknown title (Ra) (boingy unaccompanied org solo)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) (Tyson, Gilmore and Space Ethnic Voices-voc)
Space is the Place (Ra) (Space Ethnic Voices-voc)
untitled improvisation (Alzo Wright-clo and Allen-ob)
Discipline #? (Ra)
unknown R&B (Ra) (Allen, alto prelude; strong solo by Gilmore)
They'll Come Back (Ra) (June Tyson, unaccompanied voc, alternating with ensembles)
Scene n Take n (Ra) (Ra-mini-Moog)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra) (ensemble voc; Ebah-gurgling tp solo)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) (ensemble voc)
Discipline 11? (Ra) (Ebah-mellophone)
Somewhere Else (Ra) (org blues)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra) (Tyson, Gilmore, Space Ethnic Voices)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Ra-org, incomplete)

The Arkestra: Ra-org, Mini Moog; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl, picc; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc, voc; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; poss. Lex Humphries-d; poss. Harry Richards-d; James Jacson-Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, fl; prob. Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga; prob. Odun-cga, perc; Alzo Wright-clo, perc; June Tyson-voc; Space Ethnic Voices: poss. Ruth Wright, Cheryl Banks, Judith Holton. Strange strings including koto and sun harp appear briefly at end of They'll Come Back [Simosko, corrections by rlc]

untitled Mini-Moog solo
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra) (June Tyson-voc)
Shadow World (Ra)
Why Go to the Moon? (Ra) (Space Ethnic Voices)
Strange Worlds (Ra) (Tyson-declamation)
At First there Was Nothing (Ra) (Ra, Tyson, Space Ethnic Voices)
unknown riff original (Ra, org)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra) (ensemble voc, lots of perc. soloing)
Watusa (Ra) (Ra-org, more perc. soloing, incomplete)
Space is the Place (Ra) (opening lost; June Tyson-declamation; Ebah-mellophone; Thompson-bsn with trombone mouthpiece ["the most lunatic fagott in the galaxy"]
Discipline 27 (Ra) (uptempo version; great ensembles, better executed than on Praxis '84; Ebah-tp)
I'll Wait for You (Ra) (Tyson-declamation; SEV and ensemble voc.; Danny Davis-as)
untitled outside piece (Ra) (Omoe-bcl; Allen-as with Ebah-mellophone obbligato; Gilmore, upper register ts)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (down tempo version, Davis-as; Allen-as; Ebah-tp; Ra and Tyson-declamation, SEV and ensemble, voc; Thompson-modified bsn)
Theme of the Stargazers / Space is the Place (Ra) (Ra, Tyson, Ebah, ensemble, SEV, voc.; prob. Stephens, tb; b audible here)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra) (Ra-org, syn; SEV and ensemble voc; Ebah-tp; Ra-syn; Ra-org)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra) (Tyson [responses as in Shandar version], SEV and ensemble, voc)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Ra-org; Arkestra-perc)
Friendly Galaxy No. 2 (Ra) (slow, beautiful ensemble feat. Allen-ob, and Gilmore-ts; Ra-org; b audible again; marred by dropouts; incomplete)

The Arkestra: Ra-org, Mini Moog, voc; Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone, voc; prob. Charles Stephens-tb; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl, picc; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc, voc; Eloe Omoe-bcl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl, modified bsn; poss. Bill Davis-b (audible only in 2 places on side B, no solos); Clifford Jarvis or Lex Humphries-d; James Jacson-Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, fl; prob. Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga; prob. Odun-cga; June Tyson-voc; Space Ethnic Voices: poss. Ruth Wright, Cheryl Banks, Judith Holton. [Simosko, corrections by rlc]

The Arkestra played many a Monday night at Slug's from 1966 till it closed in 1972 (after Lee Morgan was murdered). There've got to be more tapes, right?

The noisemaker solo on Space Is the Place is probably by Thompson, as Ebah's mellophone takes the preceding solo. [rlc]

On 9/8/72, the Arkestra played the Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA. Any tapes? [Vein]

Discipline 27-II (Out Beyond the Kingdom Of) (Ra) (Ra, Tyson, SEV, voc)
Watusa (Ra) (perc feature)
Outer Spaceways Incorporated (Ra) (Ra-syn)

The concert ended here; there may have been more to it, though (Life Is Splendid was billed as part of the Space Is the Place Suite)

Sun Ra and his Solar-Myth Arkestra: Ra-org; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, flg; Lamont McClamb (Kwame Hadi)-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Larry Northington-as; Danny Davis-as, f; John Gilmore-ts; Pat Patrick-bs; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-bcl; Lex Humphries-d; Alzo Wright-d; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-perc; Russell Branch-perc; Robert Underwood-perc; Harry Richards-perc; June Tyson-voc; Space Ethnic Voices: Judith Holton-voc, Cheryl Banks-voc, Ruth Wright-voc. [from Atlantic album jacket]

untitled jam

Ra-Farfisa org, syn, electronic vib; Wilbur Ware-b; prob. Akh Tal Ebah-tp; John Gilmore-ts; prob. Lex Humphries-d.

Trent suggests a 1973 date based on Ra's keyboard style; similar to Pathways to Unknown Worlds.

On 7/4/73, the Arkestra played at a Louis Armstrong memorial tribute in Flushing, New York, and on 7/6/73 at Carnegie Hall during the Newport in New York Festival. Any tapes? [Fitzgerald and Vein]

Discipline 27 (Ra) ("slow, dolorous version")
Astro Black (Ra) (incl. Danny Davis-as "psycho-whimpers"; Ra "dentist drill Moog solo"; Ra-Farfisa org)
Discipline 99 (Ra) ("nice extended" Gilmore-ts)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
tape also includes an interview with Ra (made at his home in Philadelphia) by Peter Wolf

The Arkestra: Ra-Farfisa org, Mini-Moog syn; Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; Alzo Wright-clo, perc; Tommy Hunter-d; Lex Humphries-d; Atakatune-cga; Odun-cga; June Tyson-voc. [Shore]

On the third European tour (which produced Live at the Gibus), the Arkestra appeared at the Fete de l'Humanit on 9/8/73 and at the Olympia in Paris on 9/30/73. They played Nancy between the 9th and 14th of October; recordings are said to exist. [Vein]

In 12/73 or 1/74, the Arkestra played in Ann Arbor, Michigan. [Underground newspaper cover in Comet Kohoutek leaflet]

According to Danny Thompson, the Arkestra arrived in Mexico City in February 1974 and stayed for 2 or 3 months in a hotel near the Zona Rosa. They performed at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (2 concerts), the Teatro Hidalgo, complete with revolving stage (2 weeks), Chapultepec Park, the University of Mexico, outdoors at housing projects, and in front of the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan (this last was an impromptu affair). Pat Patrick and "Little Larry" (Northington) were present on this tour. Any tapes?

On 9/6/74, the Arkestra played the Ann Arbor Festival in Exile, Windsor, Ontario. James Brown was also on the bill. [poster reproduced in the Comet Kohoutek leaflet]

In the fall of 1974, the Arkestra played a 2 week engagement at the new Five Spot in New York. "Sets" ran for 4 hours straight; the band books carried by the musicians were as thick as two phone books; except for a few numbers like Watusa, many otherwise unknown compositions were played, along with some 1950s pieces, and few were repeated. Sly, the gonzo guitarist, was not present during this engagement. On one occasion the band arrived late after running over during a recording session (possibly the one that produced Side A of Sub Underground). Does anyone have tapes? [Jones] Danny Thompson believes that the legendary three baritone saxes (Thompson, Charles Davis, and Pat Patrick) performed at the Five Spot.

Introduction (collective improvisation featuring Hadi-tp solo; Hadi and Ebah-tp duet; Ebah and Hadi, duet; Sly, eg)
Astro Black (Ra) (June Tyson, voc; ens. voc; Allen, ob; Sly-eg)
Discipline 27 (Ra) (Ra, grand entrance and conducting; Ebah-tp)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra) (Ra-rg; Gilmore and Tyson-nison voc)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Ra-org)
Shadow World (Ra) (Ra-org; well executed sax ensemble; Gilmore, falsetto ts; Allen, squalling as; Omoe, extravagantly honking bcl; Ra, org; Thompson, Rlunatic fagottS; Hadi, tp; Sly, eg; Danny Davis, as psycho-whimpering; distinctive closing ensemble with Allen, lead as)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) (ens. voc; Ra, Mini-Moog syn, the spaceship takes off)
Calling Planet Earth (Ra) (ens. voc; Ra, syn: dentist drills and fire sirens)
Space Is the Place (Ra) (excellent multilayered polyrhythmic version: Tyson, voc; SEV, voc; Allen, as; Eddie Thomas, scat voc; Ra, syn)
Images (Ra) (Ra, org; Hadi, tp; Ra, org; Gilmore, ts; Ra, org; sound system has trouble with flute-heavy ensemble)
Discipline 27-II / Out Beyond the Kingdom Of (Ra) (Ra, org; Ra, voc; Tyson, voc; Thomas, voc)
Destination Unknown (Ra) (Ra, SEV, Tyson, Ebah, voc; freakout ens.)
An Astro Nation of the United Worlds of Outer Space (Ra) (Ra, Eddie Thomas, and SEV, voc; Danny Davis, as)
untitled improvisation (Hadi, tp; "sea of sounds" from the horns plus Ra, syn; Arkestra marches through audience)
We Travel the Spaceways (includes Pluto Too / Neptune / 2nd Stop Is Jupiter / Next Stop Mars / Journey to Saturn / Rocket Number 9) (Ra) (Ra, org; ens voc; Tyson, voc; Ra, voc)
Planet Earth (Ra) (one chorus with lyrics! Ra, org; ens. voc.)
Watusa (Ra) (perc. as usual; dance)
Friendly Galaxy No. 2 / I Pharaoh (Ra) (beautiful slow ens.; Ra, declamation; SEV, voc)
I Could've Enjoyed Myself on This Planet (Ra) (ens voc; Ebah and Jacson, voc; Hadi, tp; Tyson and SEV, hysterics)
Friendly Galaxy No. 2 / I Pharoah ; reprise (Ra) (Ra, declamation; vib in the accompaniment)
Face the Music (Ra) (Ra, org; ens voc; Jacson, bsn!; marching through audience, singalong)

Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Arkestra: Kwame Hadi-tp; Akh Tal Ebah-tp, mellophone, poss. reed trumpet, voc; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl, picc; Danny Davis-as, fl ; John Gilmore-ts, timbales, voc; Eloe Omoe-bcl, fl; Danny Thompson-bs, poss. modified bsn, fl; James Jacson-bsn, perc, voc; Ra-org, Mini- Moog syn, sermonizing; Sly-eg; prob. Clifford Jarvis-d; unidentified-d; poss. Atakatune-cga; unidentified-vib, perc; June Tyson-voc; Space Ethnic Voices (2 female vocalists plus Eddie Thomas [Thomas Thaddeus]) and dancers. [titles Fukuda; personnel rlc with help from Fukuda; thanks to Curtis Fukuda for this unique tape]

According to Fukuda, this concert was a classic multimedia event with slides and 16 mm films being projected behind the Arkestra. The electric guitar player (same as on The Antique Blacks) was "a medium height Afro-American of lean build." John Gilmore remembers him as Sly. The "tall thin vibraphone player" was barely audible in concert (he can be heard in two spots on the tape). According to Henry Kuntz in Bells 9, a new music newsletter in the Bay Area, the same band played a similar repertoire in San Francisco (Keystone Korner, Off Plaza) and Berkeley (One World Family Center) from October 30 through the end of November. On these other gigs, it was the Intergalactic Myth Science Arkestra.

The noisemaker solo could be Ebah on reed trumpet instead of Danny Thompson on "lunatic fagott" (modified bassoon) [rlc]

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