Sun Ra Tapeography:
1986-1989
Introduction (Jacson-Infinity Drum; Allen-fl; Thompson-fl)
Astro Black (Ra) (Tyson, voc; ens voc)
untitled improvisation (perc; tp and Radford-eb duet; Hill-tb; sax ens.)
The Lion of the Heavens (Ra) (Tyson, voc; ens voc)
The King of Mystery (Ra) (Tyson, voc; ens voc; Ra declamation; Wilson,
ts)
unidentified improvisation (conducted ensemble; Ra, syn; Allen, as; Omoe, bcl; Ra, syn;
Gilmore, ts)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson) (Ra, p; Gilmore, cl; Hill, tb; Gilmore, ts)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) (Ra, p; Ra and ens, voc)
Never Never Land (Ra) (Jacson, Infinity Drum; Hill, tb; Gilmore, cl; Allen, picc;
Tyson, voc)
Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
The Sun Is on his Way (Ra) (Tyson, voc; Wilson, ts)
Children of the Sun (Ra) (Ra, voc, ens voc -- to the same tune as the preceding
instead of Discipline 27-II)
Discipline 27 (Ra) (Hill, tb/ / The Name of the Game (Ra) /Ra and ens,
sermonizing about the inequities of life; has been edited)
unidentified improvisation (Hill, tb, Thompson, bs, and Williams, bs; edited)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein) (Jacson, voc; Gilmore, cl)
The Arkestra: unidentified-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl., picc; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; Ronald Wilson-ts, picc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; prob. Kenny Williams-bs; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl, contra-alto cl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Sun Ra-p, syn; prob. Carl LeBlanc-eg; poss. Rollo Radford-eb; Buster Smith-d; unidentified, cga; June Tyson-voc; unknown female- voc. It is difficult to tell with all the distortion whether the bass is acoustic or electric; there may be a second trumpet. [rlc]
1st set:
untitled improvisation (Edwards, eg; Hill, good tb; Smith, d; Patrick, as; Jacson, Infinity
Drum; Allen, as; Smith, d; "conducted" ens)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (Patrick, as) / The Sun Is on His Way (Ra and
ensemble voc)
untitled synthesizer feature (Ra) (some ens backing)
East of the Sun (Bowman) (Gilmore, voc)
Drop Me off in Harlem (Ellington) (Ra, syn; Hill, very good tb; Edwards, eg;
Ra, syn; Gilmore, ts; Ra, p)
Blues #1 (Ra, p; Edwards, eg; Ra, p; Patrick, as; Ra, p and syn; Radford,
eb)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ra, syn; Allen, as)
Chloë (Kahn-Moret) (Ra, p; Gilmore, ts; Brown, tp; Ra, p)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein) (Ra, p; Jacson, voc, Gilmore, cl;
Edwards, eg; ens. feat. Patrick, as)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, p; Ra, voc)
Blues #2 (Ra, p, Edwards, eg)
I Want to Be Happy (Hill and Jacson, voc; Patrick, as; Ra, voc)
2nd set:
untitled improvisation (Smith and poss. Hunter, d; Jacson, Ancient Egyptian Infinity
Drum; ens; Allen, as; Omoe, bcl)
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach) (Ra, what piano!; Hill, tb, Gilmore, ts)
Queer Notions (Hawkins) (Ra, p; Abdullah, tp; Gilmore, ts; Hill, muted
tb)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra) (Ra, p; Ra, syn; Allen, picc; Ra, voc; Edwards, eg; Ra,
voc)
But Not for Me (Gershwin) (Ra, p; Hill, tb; Gilmore, ts; Edwards, eg; Radford,
eb)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills) (Patrick, as; incomplete)
Sun Ra and the Arkestra: prob. Ronnie Brown-tp, flg; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc; Marshall Allen-as, fl, cl, picc; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Ra-p, syn, voc; Bruce Edwards-eg; Rollo Radford-electric standup b; Buster Smith-d; poss. Tommy Hunter-d; poss. Atakatune-cga.
It is possible that Prelude to a Kiss through I Want to Be Happy were actually played at the end of the concert -- the order of tracks on the tape is confusing.)
[Pleshar and rlc; some of the free pieces sound as though there's a second guitar; Ronald Wilson is not present, at least he has no solos; the trumpet player seems to have arrived late, and the solo assignment to Hill on Queer Notions suggests that they were expecting to work without a trumpet. Someone shouts "Rollo!" during the bass solo on But Not for Me
Ahmed Abdullah was not touring with the Arkestra in Spring 1986. He was busy with The Group. He suggests Ronnie Brown, who is from Kansas City and may therefore not have arrived with the rest of the band.
1st set:
Cosmo Prelude (perc, syn, as, g, ens)
The Lion of the Heavens (Ra)
Children of the Sun (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
I'll Never Be the Same (Kahn-Malneck-Signorelli)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Fragile Emotions Blues (Ra)
Shadow World (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
2nd set:
A Lost Horizon (Ra)
Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Daydream (Strayhorn)
unidentified swing tune
blues swing tune
Over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein)
The Arkestra: Personnel unidentified. Abdullah says he wasn't with the Arkestra at this time.
Blues #1 (Ra) (Ra, p; Radford, eb; Edwards, eg; Ra's rollin' tonight)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson) (Ra, p; Gilmore, cl; Hill,
tb; Gilmore, ts/)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ra, syn incl.
amusing boo-bam effect)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein) (Ra, org; Jacson,
voc; Gilmore, cl; Ra and Jacson, voc; marching; Gilmore, cl)
Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ra, syn;
Allen, as)
Blue Lou (Sampson) (Ra, p; Patrick, as; Hill, tb; Gilmore, ts;
Smith, d)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, p; Ra, voc and conducting; no
trumpet punctuations!)
Blues #2 (Ra) (Ra, p; Radford, eb; Edwards, eg; contrapuntal
riffing with Patrick and ens.; Ra, thunderous p)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, syn, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, cl, fl; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Eloe
Omoe-as, bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity
Drum, voc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Rollo Radford-eb;
Buster Smith-d.
Probably made on same tour as A Night in East Berlin,
though the absence of Ronald Wilson (as on T86.5.10) makes
the placement of this concert a little uncertain. Radio
broadcast is not the complete concert; the customary intro and
space chants were probably edited out.
[See new entry T86.6.24 for more information — Moudry, 000516.]
unidentified title (perc; Allen, ob; Omoe, bcl; Hill, tb)
The Arkestra: unidentified-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl; John
Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; Danny Ray
Thompson-bs; Eloe Omoe, as, bcl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient
Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Sun Ra-p, keyb, voc; Rollo
Radford-eb; poss. Buster Smith-d.(Trent; Buster Smith
suggested by rlc; which 1986 tour was this? Neither Pat
Patrick nor Ronald Wilson is present and Trent says that in a
blindfold test this band could easily be taken for the 1984
Arkestra; however, note Ra's singing on I Dream Too
MuchS
At some point in 1986 (perhaps July; there is a reference to only two
German concerts on the tour), a 17-piece Arkestra performed at the
Jazz in Pfaffenwinkel series, Aula der Schongauer Hauptschule,
Schongau, Bavaria. Besides Ra, only Allen and Gilmore are identified,
though it is specifically stated that Abdullah and Patrick were not
present (Peter Wie'mueller in Jazz Podium, probably 8/86)
Blues #1 (Ra) (Ra, p; Radford, eb; Edwards, eg; Ra's rollin' tonight)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, syn, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, cl, fl; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Eloe
Omoe-as, bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity
Drum, voc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Rollo Radford-eb;
Buster Smith-d.
Information provided by Holger Neuhaus; entry added by Moudry 000516.
A Lost Horizon (Ra)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb, syn; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John
Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Ronald Wilson-ts; poss. Kenny Williams-ts, bs, perc; James
Jacson-as, bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Pat Patrick-as, eb; Billy
Bang-vln, perc; Bruce Edwards or Carl LeBlanc-eg; prob. Buster Smith-d; prob. Tommy
"Bugs" Hunter-d; unknown-d, perc; June Tyson-voc. (Iannapollo and rlc)
In the fall the Arkestra appeared at the Lydia Mendelsohn Theater in
Ann Arbor, MI. The show lasted 3 1/2 to 4 hours. "Elaborate stage setup with trap
doors. Ra and Tyson had 'thrones' to sit on which disappeared into the stage.... The
Arkestra broke down the stage/audience barrier by climbing down off of the stage and
playing large segments of the show in the aisles (not just the chanting). Marshall Allen
had an extended /unaccompanied/ solo over some bop tune." (Subotic) Supposedly
this was an anniversary. Which anniversary? Did the Arkestra play Ann Arbor before
the 1972 Festival?
1st set:
2nd set:
The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, synth; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, cl, ob,
picc; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; Ronald Wilson-ts, picc; Eloe Omoe-as,
bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Danny Ray Thompson-bs,
fl, EVI; Carl LeBlanc-eg; Bruce Edwards-eg; Tyler Mitchell-b; Buster Smith-d; Tommy
"Bugs" Hunter-d; poss. Stanley Morgan-cga. (rlc; track list from Webber and rlc)
Kruempelmann recalls wonderful synthesizer playing "on a very cold night."
Lights on a Satellite (Ra) (incomplete)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, syn, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Pat
Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; Ronald Wilson-ts, picc; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl;
James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Carl
LeBlanc-eg; Steven Tyler Mitchell-b; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; poss. Stanley Morgan
(Atakatune)-cga, perc; unidentified-perc. (Trent; personnel list from Cadence,
2/87, though the concert is said there to have taken place in East Berlin; Trent says
there are two percussionists
but no sign of Tommy Hunter's drums)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
Ra-p, voc; other Arkestrans-ensemble voc. (rlc)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (Pat Patrick, as; Ra, voc; ensemble voc)
Sun Ra and his Alter-Destiny Omniversal Arkestra: Ra-p, voc; Michael
Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; poss. Randall Murray-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Vincent
Chancey-Frh; Pat Patrick-as; Danny Davis-as; Marshall Allen-as, cl, fl; John Gilmore-ts,
cl, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; poss. James Jacson-bsn, perc; Charles Ellerbee-eg;
Tyler Mitchell-b; prob. Buster Smith-d; poss. Tommy Hunter-d; poss. Stanley
Morgan-cga; poss. Pharaoh TIncense Dude' Abdullah-perc; unknown-perc; June
Tyson-voc. (Thanks to Pleshar for the tape; titles and
personnel from voice-over by Grover Washington Jr. (!), who said the band was 20
pieces, and additions by rlc.)
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach) (fast swing version, incomplete)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, org, voc; prob. Michael Ray-tp; prob. Ahmed
Abdullah-tp; prob. Randall Murray-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Pat
Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, perc;
Danny Ray Thompson-as, bs, fl; Tyler Mitchell-b; Buster Smith-d; Tommy Hunter-d;
Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga; June Tyson-voc. (Shore)
Astro Black (Ra)
Sun Ra and his 20th Century Omniverse Arkestra: personnel unknown.
(Iannapollo)
1st set:
The Arkestra: Ra-p, syn, voc; Eddie Gale-tp; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl, EVI,
perc; Pat Patrick-as; Danny Davis-as; John Gilmore-ts, EVI, perc, voc; Ronald Wilson-ts;
Eloe Omoe-as, bcl, contra-alto cl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum,
voc; prob. Danny Thompson-bs; unidentified-b; Buster Smith-d; unidentified-cga, perc;
Art Jenkins-voc. (rlc)
An exceptional concert -- one of the few times Art Jenkins' bebop scatting was captured
on tape. (rlc) Eddie Gale confirms his presence on this tape.
unidentified titles
The Arkestra: Ra-p, syn; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Billy
Bang-vln; June Tyson-voc; Mr. TCIII-voc;others unidentified. (Iannapollo)
During summer 1987, the Arkestra performed (from 1am to 4:30am) in a small loft club
in Detroit called New World Stage. (Subotic)
unidentified title (perc, EVI, tp, ens)
The Arkestra: unidentified-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, EVI;
probably Noel Scott-as, bs; John Gilmore-ts, cl; Kenny Williams-ts, bs; Danny
Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Ra-keyb, voc;
unidentified-b; unidentified-d. (Trent; could the as duet be
Allen and Davis, though?)
The Lion of the Heavens (Ra)
B>The Arkestra: Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl; prob. Noel Scott-as;
John Gilmore-ts, cl; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian
Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-church org, p; unidentified-b; unidentified-d; unidentified-perc;
June Tyson-voc. (Trent; could it be Danny Davis instead of Scott?)
Introduction (Ra, p; as; ens; as/tb/bcl; tp; ens; ts)
Sun Ra Arkestra and Bushdancers: Fred Adams-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, fl; Pat Patrick-as; Danny Ray Thompson-as, bs; John Gilmore-ts, cl, voc; James
Jacson-fl, bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Leroy Taylor (Eloe
Omoe)-as, bcl, contra-alto cl; Danny Davis-as, fl; Kenny Williams-ts, bs; Sun Ra-p, keyb,
voc; Robert A. Williams-space instruments; Oscar Fleming Brown-b; Earl C. (Buster)
Smith-d; June Tyson-voc, dance; Judith A. Holton-dance;
Cheryl Banks-dance; Greg Pratt-dance; Darrell Brown-dance. (Trent; personnel taken
from a "publicity handout for this German tour; no guarantees who was there on the
night")
1st set:
2nd set:
2nd set encore:
Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Cosmic Love Dance Arkestra: Sun Ra-p, keyb,
voc; Michael Ray-tp, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc; Marshall
Allen-as, cl, fl; Danny Davis-as; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; Eloe
Omoe-as, bcl; Kenny Williams-bs; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum,
voc; Billy Bang-vln; prob. Owen Brown Jr.-vln; prob. John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d;
unidentified-perc; June Tyson-voc. (Russ, additions by rlc and Abdullah; Russ says the
second violinist came from Temple University and had just joined the band)
This must have been one of Danny Davis' last concerts.
Sun Ra and the American Destiny Arkestra: personnel unidentified.
unidentified title (perc; tp; Allen, as; Hill, tb; Edwards, eg; Gilmore, ts)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Martin Banks-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, fl; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient
Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Kenny Williams-bs; Eloe Omoe (Leroy Taylor)-bcl,
contra-alto cl, as; Ra-p, keyb, voc; Owen Brown-vln; Bruce Edwards-eg; Rollo
Radford-eb; Earl "Buster" Smith-d. (Trent; personnel as announced on Bremerhaven
broadcast, T88.6.3)
unidentified title (perc; EVI; Brown, vln; Jacson, bsn; Gilmore, ts)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Martin Banks-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, fl; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient
Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Kenny Williams-bs; Eloe Omoe (Leroy Taylor)-bcl,
contra-alto cl, as; Ra-p, keyb, voc; Owen Brown-vln; Bruce Edwards-eg; Rollo
Radford-eb; Earl "Buster" Smith-d. (Tunes Trent and Webber; personnel presumably as
announced on Bremerhaven broadcast, T88.6.3)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Martin Banks,-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, ob, fl; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; James Jacson-bsn, fl,
Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Kenny Williams-bs; Eloe Omoe (Leroy
Taylor)-bcl, contra-alto cl, as; Ra-p, keyb, voc; Owen Brown-vln;
Bruce Edwards-eg; Rollo Radford-eb; Earl "BusterS" Smith-d; June Tyson-voc. (Trent;
personnel as announced on Bremerhaven broadcast, T88.6.3)
Introduction (Allen, ob; perc; Ray and Banks, tp duet; Hill, tb; as; Radford, eb)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Martin Banks-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, ob, fl; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales; James Jacson-bsn, fl,
Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Kenny Williams-bs, ts; Eloe Omoe (Leroy
Taylor)-bcl, contra-alto cl, as; Ra-p, keyb, voc; Owen Brown-vln; June Tyso-vln, voc;
Bruce Edwards-eg; Rollo Radford-eb; Earl "Buster" Smith-d. (Trent; personnel
announced on the broadcast.)
second set:
third set:
(tunes Iannapollo)
Ra-p, syn, voc; Al Evans-flg; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Michael Ray-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb;
Marshall Allen-as, fl; Pat Patrick-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; Danny Ray
Thompson-bs; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl, contra-alto cl; Billy Bang-vln; June Tyson-vln, voc;
Bruce Edwards-eg; poss. Tyler Mitchell-b;
Luqman Ali-d; Buster Smith-d; Pharaoh Abdullah-perc and loud asides during second
set only; Elson Nascimento, perc. (rlc, based on observation)
The first set (not recorded) featured a very long lecture by The Ra. (rlc)
unidentified title (sounds like something from A&M sessions: Abdullah & Ray,
tp)
Sun Ra & Arkestra: Sun Ra-p, syn, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Michael Ray-tp;
Tyrone Hill-tb; Pat Patrick-as; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; Eloe
Omoe-as, bcl, contra-alto cl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient
Egyptian Infinity Drum; June Tyson-vln, voc; Bruce
Edwards-eg; prob. Rollo Radford-eb; Buster Smith-d; Luqman Ali-d; Art Jenkins-voc.
(Tunes rlc and Russ; personnel rlc, Pleshar, and Abdullah)
Abdullah confirms his presence here. "It was to be the last time I worked with Pat
Patrick in the band. I started working much more steadily with the band from here on."
After two weeks in Japan (early August), the band played in Houston, Texas on 8/27.
unidentified improvisation (Hill, tb; Ore, b; cga; Smith, d; Ali, d; Abdullah, tp;
ens)
Sun Ra and Greetings from the 21st Century: Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Michael
Ray-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl,
timbales; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient
Egyptian Infinity Drum; Ra-p, syn, voc; Billy Bang,-vln; June Tyson-vln, voc; John
Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; Luqman Ali-d; unidentified-cga. (rlc)
"This concert was notable -- it was great music. It rained throughout the event, it was
outdoors and we damn near played in the mud, but the band was fired up." (Abdullah)
Includes Noel Scott's best recorded work -- he sounds like Pat Patrick playing Bird
licks. The concert was short because the band arrived late.
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts) (Smith, d; Ra, p; Ray, tp; Gilmore, ts)
Encores:
Sun Ra and his Omniverse Arkestra: Ra-p, syn, voc; Michael Ray-tp, voc;
Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel Scott-as; John
Gilmore-ts, perc; Leroy Taylor (Eloe Omoe)-as, bcl, contra-alto cl; Danny Ray
Thompson-bs; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Billy Bang-vln;
Gerald Bruce Edwards-eg; poss. Carl LeBlanc-eg; Philip Watkins-b; Earl "Buster"
Smith-d; Luqman Ali-d; Eric "Samurai" Walker-d; Kwasi Asare-African perc; Jorge
Silva-Brazilian perc; Elson Nascimento-Brazilian perc; Lorimil Machado-berimbau,
dance; Gato-perc, dance; June Tyson,-voc, vln. (rlc and Abdullah, with help from
incomplete personnel supplied by the announcer; same band as Chicago Festival;
thanks to Nik Subotic for a tape)
The unedited tape of the entire concert is missing from the WEMU archives. (Subotic)
untitled improvisation (freakout ens; Gilmore, ts; d; Ray, tp; Bang, vln; freakout ens;
LeBlanc and Edwards, eg; Abdullah, tp)
Sun Ra and his Planet Saturn Love Adventure Arkestra: Ra-p, syn, keyb, voc;
Michael Ray-tp, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel
Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Eloe Omoe-as, bcl, contra-alto cl; Danny Ray
Thompson-bs; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient EgyptianInfinity Drum; Billy Bang-vln; Bruce
Edwards-eg; Carl LeBlanc-eg; Philip Watkins-b; Buster Smith-d; Luqman Ali-d; Eric
Walker-d; Kwasi Asare-African perc; Jorge Silva-Brazilian perc; Elson
Nascimento-Brazilian perc; Lorimil Machado-berimbau, dance; Gato-perc, dance; June
Tyson-voc, vln. (rlc; help on tunes from Ron Russ; much help on personnel from
Abdullah)
The Chicago and Montreux/Detroit Festivals featured a "notably large ensemble" with
extra percussionists. Elson Nascimento and Jorge Silva were working with Ra for the
first time, as were the two Brazilian capoeira dancers, Lorimil
Machado and Gato. Asare made these two performances only. "This was truly
spectacular." (Abdullah)
"Pat Patrick was present in Chicago but did not play. We stayed over
in Chicago after the Festival and with a smaller band opened at a club
called George's, a supper club. Music was really great. (Abdullah)
Well, was anyone recording at George's?
1st set:
2nd set:
The Arkestra: Ra-p, syn, voc; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl,
timbales; Bruce Edwards-eg; John Ore-b; June Tyson-voc, vln; Art Jenkins-voc; others
unidentified. (Byrd)
Ra talked a lot between tunes on this occasion. Before Alabama Blues: "I might
have to come out my low profile to straighten the planet out, and the first thing I'm
gonna do is play the blues for you."
On Duke Ellington. Duke "had one desire: to have a band like Fletcher Henderson. But
he never did do it, because he had too many prima donnas in his band. They were
great musicians, but they were prima donnas, they weren't friends." (Byrd)
I Got Rhythm (Gershwin)
Sun Ra & Arkestra: Sun Ra-p, syn, voc; unknown-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl;
John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; prob. Kenny Williams-bs; June Tyson or Owen Brown-vln;
prob. Bruce Edwards-eg; unknown-b; prob. Buster Smith-d; June Tyson-voc; Art
Jenkins-voc. (Pleshar)
1st set:
2nd set:
The Arkestra: Personnel includes Eddie Gale-tp (Gale).
At some point in 1988 or early 1989 the Arkestra did a tour of the South, including a
large outdoor jazz festival in Houston, Texas (where they played opposite Arnett Cobb;
Lanny Steele was the impresario). Philip Watkins played bass on this tour, and Disney
tunes were featured. The band also played Nightstage in Cambridge Mass. on 12/8/88.
The Arkestra played Sweet Basil in New York City during the first week of March 1989.
The Disney songs become a feature. The Arkestra played Slim's in Oakland on 4/5/89
and Koncepts Cultural Gallery on 4/7 and 4/8. The 4/8 show included Noel Scott
(wearing Mickey Mouse ears and doing backflips), Gilmore and Allen, and a dancer
wearing a Dumbo costume; the repertory included Zippity Doo Dah, <>The
Forest of No Return, Someday My Prince Will Come, When You Wish
upon a Star, and Whistle While You Work. (Oakland Tribune,
4/10/89)
Astro Black (Ra)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Julian Priester-tb; Vincent
Chancey-Frh; Noel Scott-as; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, voc; Eloe
Omoe-as, bcl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p, keyb, voc;
Bruce Edwards-eg; poss. Owen Brown-vln; unknown-b; prob. Earl "Buster" Smith-d;
June Tyson-voc. (Trent)
Rumor has it that this concert was released on an Austrian or German CD called Outer Thoughts. At least it was advertised. If it exists, it is almost certainly a bootleg.
(Kruempelmann and Trent)
Fanfare with solos
Sun Ra & his Intergalactic Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp, voc; poss. Cecil
Brooks-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc;
Ra-p, syn, voc; poss. Bruce Edwards-eg; prob. Buster Smith-d; unknown, perc; Art
Jenkins-voc; June Tyson-voc. (Pleshar)
On June 10, the Intergalactic Arkestra played two sets at Maxwell's in
Hoboken, NJ. The band included Ahmed Abdullah, two trombones (one was Hill; the
second was described as a Quentin Jackson type), Allen and Scott, Gilmore, Tyson, and
a dancer with a mostly shaved head. Much Disney on the program. Thereafter the
band went to Birmingham. (Simon) In June and July 1989 the Arkestra made a
Canadian tour, playing festivals in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, and
Toronto. The 7/19 engagement was right after returning
from Canada. (Abdullah)
1st set:
2nd set:
The Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; rest unidentified.
unidentified title (Ra, syn; perc)
The Arkestra: Ahmed Abdullah-tp; poss. Cecil Brooks-tp; Al Evans-flg;
Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, ob, fl, perc; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc; Eloe
Omoe-as, bcl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; prob. Owen Brown,
Jr.-vln; Ra-p, syn, org, voc; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; Jorge Silva-perc, voc; Elson
Nascimento-surdo,
perc, voc; Lorimil Machado-berimbau, dance, voc; June Tyson-voc, dance. (Tracks Russ
and rlc; personnel rlc)
1st set:
2nd set:
The Arkestra: Ra-p, syn, voc; poss. Cecil Brooks-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, fl, ob, perc; Noel Scott-as, shaker; unidentified-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc,
voc; poss. Kenny Williams-ts, bs, perc; Buster Smith-d; unidentified,-d; Jorge Silva-perc;
Elson Nascimento-perc; unidentified-perc. (Byrd with some guesses about personnel by
rlc)
During the epic Somebody Else's World "Sun Ra walked through the audience
-- it looked like he was gliding, because of his long robe -- with two large paddles,
selecting members of the audience to stand up, and as they did, bending them over and
gently paddling them. Tape contains highly audible
comments by some jerks in the audience. It certainly was a wonderfully strange
spectacle." (Byrd)
The trumpet section in 1989: "Cecil Brooks started playing with us in
[Cambridge] at Nightstage in T89 and did make a few gigs. Tommy Turrentine also
played at Nightstage and began working with the band. Robert Rutledge played
Nightstage and maybe one more gig in Baltimore." (Abdullah) Caution: This must not
have been the only Nightstage appearance by the Arkestra in U89 -- or is Abdullah
referring to the 12/8/88 gig?
unidentified title (Ra, syn; as; perc; arco b) [cuts in]
Sun Ra & Arkestra: Ra-p, syn; Cecil Brooks-tp; poss. Fred Adams-tp; Tyrone
Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts; Danny Ray Thompson-bs, as;
unknown-vocals and treated vocals (poss. June Tyson and Mr. TCIII); poss. John Ore-b;
unknown-d. (Pleshar plus rlc; reed players identified by rlc from Jared Crawford
photo; Brooks identified by Michael Shore, who says that he was in the Arkestra for
several months in T89)
Intro / Astro Black (Ra)
Sun Ra & Arkestra: Band is probably the same as 8/13/89 tape. Abdullah
says he was not present at this concert. Tape covers the beginning of an hour-long
performance during a rainstorm. The person with the tape recorder left as soon as the
rain began, although the band kept playing. (They were under a tarp, the audience
wasnUt). They also played Take the A Train, Let's Go Fly A Kite,
Space is the Place, etc. which were not recorded. (Pleshar)
unidentified title (perc)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Julian Priester-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Leroy Taylor
(Eloe Omoe)-as, bcl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Noel Scott-as,
bs; Sun Ra-p, keyb, voc; Arthur E. ("Junie") Booth-eg; Gerald Bruce Edwards-eg;
Muneer Abdul Fataah-clo; unknown-b; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; David
Pleasant-perc;Jorge Silva-perc, voc; Elson Dos Santos Nascimento-perc, dance, voc; June Tyson-voc, vln, Pat Hall Smith-dance; Cheryl Banks-dance; Arnette DeMille-dance. (Trent, taken from Willisau Festival program; program does not list Jorge Silva, but he is present in the concluding percussion / vocal piece, with vocals in Portuguese; Danny Ray Thompson is listed but left the band just before these concerts.)
unidentified title (perc; ens; Gilmore, ts)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Julian Priester-tb; Marshall
Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; Danny Thompson-bs, fl; Leroy Taylor
(Eloe Omoe)-as, bcl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Noel Scott,-as,
bs; Sun Ra-p, keyb, voc; Arthur E. (Jumie) Booth-eg; Gerald Bruce Edwards-eg; Muneer
Abdul Fataah-clo; Peter Kowald-b; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; David Pleasant-perc; Jorge
Silva-perc, voc; Elson Dos Santos Nascimento-perc, dance, voc; June Tyson-voc, vln, Pat
Hall Smith-dance; Cheryl Banks-dance; Arnette DeMille-dance. (Trent, taken from
Willisau Festival program; program does not list Jorge Silva, but he is present in the
concluding percussion/ vocal piece, with vocals in Portuguese; Danny Ray Thompson
is listed but does not seem to be presentQhe must have parted company with Ra just
before these concerts; Peter Kowald sat in on this occasion.)
unidentified improvisation
The Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; res unidentified.
"There was a series of concerts we did in the South. It was during this time that Eloe
became ill. We were traveling by bus. We noticed that he would not come out of his
sleeper. I know we were in Miami when he first went to the doctor." The concert series
(which also included an appearance in Key West) was produced by Paxton Baker and
Philip Michael Thomas (as in Miami Vice). (Abdullah)
In October 1989, the Arkestra traveled to Soviet Georgia for the first jazz festival ever
put on there. They stayed a week. (Abdullah)
Any US concerts from late in the year? A one-week stand at the Village Vanguard, first
week of 12/89, had John Ore, Julian Priester, and Art Taylor.
T86a. Hohentwiel concert
Hohentwiel, West Germany. 1986. Private recording, 90 min.
(Kruempelmann
Discipline 27-II / I'll Wait for You (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Drop Me Off in Harlem (Ellington)
Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; Radford, eb) (incomplete)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein) (incomplete)
The Shadow World (Ra) (incomplete)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Watusa (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra; the 1960 version)
T86.6.24. Breman concert.
Recorded for Radio Bremen at the Schauburg. The concert has the Radio Bremen (archive) number JZ 5739.
Big John's Special (H. Henderson) (Ra, p; Gilmore, cl; Hill,
tb; Gilmore, ts/)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ra, syn incl.
amusing boo-bam effect)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein) (Ra, org; Jacson,
voc; Gilmore, cl; Ra and Jacson, voc; marching; Gilmore, cl)
Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ra, syn;
Allen, as)
Blue Lou (Sampson) (Ra, p; Patrick, as; Hill, tb; Gilmore, ts;
Smith, d)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, p; Ra, voc and conducting; no
trumpet punctuations!)
Blues #2 (Ra) (Ra, p; Radford, eb; Edwards, eg; contrapuntal
riffing with Patrick and ens.; Ra, thunderous p)
T86.8.11. Rochester concert
Red Creek, Rochester, New York. 8/11/86. 94 min. Private recording with decent
sound (Iannapollo)
Calling Planet Earth / Children of the Sun (Ra) (14:52) (Ra,
voc; ensemble voc; Wilson, ts)
unidentified title
Daydream (Ellington-Strayhorn)
untitled blues (Ra and rhythm)
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Drop Me Off in Harlem (Ellington)
Space is the Place (incl. Rocket #9; 2nd Stop is Jupiter;
Saturn Rings; Journey to Saturn) (Ra) (9:00) (Tyson, voc; unknown
male, voc; Ra, Tyson, and ensemble voc; Ra, syn)
T86.12.3. Rottweil Festival
Rottweil, West Germany. 12/3/86. 180 min. Private recording, decent but not great
sound. (Webber, Kruempelmann)
Introduction (Jacson, Infinity Drum; perc)
untitled improvisation (ens; Hill, tb)
Children of the Sun (Ra) (Ronald Wilson, ts; Ra, voc)
East of the Sun (Bowman) (Gilmore, voc; Ra, syn)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson) (Gilmore, ts, cl)
Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington) (Allen, as; Ra, syn)
unidentified blues (Ra) /(Ra, p; Mitchell, b; LeBlanc, eg; Wilson, ts)
Blue Lou (Sampson) (Patrick, as; Gilmore, ts)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra) (Ra, syn; LeBlanc, eg)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson) (Hill, tb)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, p; Ra, voc)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein) (Jacson, voc; Gilmore, cl; Wilson, ts; Ra
and Jacson, voc)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
Satellites are Spinning (Ra) (incomplete)
Introduction (Allen, ob; perc; Mitchell, b; Smith, d)
Discipline 27 (Ra) (Hill, tb; Allen, as; Smith & Hunter, d/)
Queer Notions (Hawkins) (Ra, p with Stargazers quote; Gilmore, ts; Hill,
tb)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills) (Patrick, as)
Shadow World (Ra) (many solos plus passage for Jacson, bsn; Omoe,
contra-alto cl and poss. Thompson, EVI/)
unidentified title (Ra, Gothic org; Gilmore, falsetto ts; prob. LeBlanc, eg; Smith &
Hunter, d)
I'll Never Be the Same (Kahn-Malneck-Signorelli) (Wilson, ts; prob. LeBlanc,
eg; Gilmore, ts; Ra, p)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra) (Ra, p; Gilmore, ts; Ra, org; Gilmore,
ts)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Allen, as; Ra, syn)
Space Is the Place - We Travel the Spaceways - Outer
Spaceways Inc. - Rocket Number Nine - Journey to Saturn -
Saturn Rings (Ra) (Ra, voc; ens. voc)
T86.12.6. Leipzig concert
Leipzig, East Germany, 12/6/86. 35 min. Good quality stereo, provenance unknown
but not an audience tape. (Kruempelmann and Trent)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Space Is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways / Rocket
Number Nine / Outer Spaceways Inc. (Ra)
I Want to Be Happy
T87a. Concert of unknown origin
Concert tape of unknown date and origin. An excerpt of c. 10 min. was played on
WKCR's Sun Ra Festival, 4/20/87. It was probably supplied by Vincent Chancey.
Stylistically it could be from anywhere between 1977 and 1987... (rlc)
Satellites are Spinning (Ra)
T87.1.22. Philadelphia concert
Community College of Philadelphia (NPR Broadcast from WHYY FM, Jazz
Impressions of Philadelphia). 1/22/87. c. 75 min.
untitled Omniverse-style original (Ra) (Ra, p; Patrick, as)
Yeah, Man! (Sissle-Henderson) (Gilmore, cl; Abdullah, tp;
Gilmore, ts)
untitled blues (Ra)(Ra, p; Ellerbee, eg; Danny Davis, as; Ray, tp)
Daydream (Strayhorn) (Allen, as)
Blue Lou (Hayes) (Patrick, as; Gilmore, ts; prob. Smith, d)
Beautiful Love (Young-Gillespie-etc.) (Ra, "voc"; Gilmore, great ts solo with b
and d only)
I'll Never Be the Same (Kahn-Malneck-Signorelli) (poss. Abdullah, tp; Ra, p;
good Gilmore, ts)
A Fireside Chat with Lucifer (Ra) (swing tune with Ra, declamation; Patrick,
as; Davis, as; Ray, tp)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills) (Patrick, as)
Space Is the Place (Ra) (Tyson, voc; not clear who the male vocalist is)
T87.2.17. Philadelphia concert>
Grendel's Lair, Philadelphia. 2/17/87. Private recording, good sound. (Shore) Grendel's
Lair was a second-floor nightclub located on South Street. They used to feature Sun Ra
on Monday nights. (rlc)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills)
Sophisticated Lady (Carney-Mills-Ellington)
Daydream (Strayhorn) ("great version"; Allen, as with "lush reed
support")
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, voc, cond)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Space Is the Place - We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (ens. voc.)
brief interview with Ra
T87.3.11. Cambridge concert
Nightstage, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 3/11/87. 88 min. Private recording with OK
sound. (Iannapollo)
unidentified blues (Ra plus rhythm)
Slumming on Park Avenue (Berlin)
Daydream (Ellington-Strayhorn)
Mood Indigo (Tio, if you want to get technical)
Let's Keep Smiling (When You're Smiling?)
unidentified title
Jumpin' at the Woodside (Basie) (huh?)
The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Ra)
T87.5.10. Santa Cruz concert
Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, California. 5/10/87. Broadcast over KUSP-FM. 93
min. Not the complete show (note freakout ensemble that carries into the intro to
Beautiful Love). Excellent sound. (Russ; rebroadcast on WKCR Sun
Ra memorial show, 6/8/93)
unidentified improvisation (incl. Patrick, as; Wilson, ts; Allen or Gilmore, EVI)
unidentified improvisation (Ra, p; Davis, as)
East of the Sun (Bowman) (Gilmore, voc; Ra, p and syn)
[It's Only a] Paper Moon (Rose-Harburg-Arlen) (Jenkins, voc; several
verses added by Jenkins)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
unidentified title (Jenkins, falsetto wordless voc)
Queer Notions (Hawkins) (Ra, p; Gilmore, ts)
Beautiful Love (Young-Coots-Gillespie-Van Alstyne) (Ra, voc; Gilmore,
ts)
Slumming on Park Avenue (Berlin) (Jacson and ens voc; Raand ens, voc)
When You See Danger / Now's the Time (Parker) / Straight No
Chaser (Monk) (Jenkins, scat voc; prob. Thompson, bs)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (Ra and ens voc; the original tune;
marching)
Outer Spaceways Incorporated / Space Is the Place (Ra) (Ra,
declamation; more marching; not the original tunes)
T87.6.20. New York concert
Central Park, New York City, 6/20/87. 88 min. Private recording (OK sound).
(Iannapollo)
Shadow World (Ra)
synthesizer solo
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington-Mercer)
Take the A Train (Strayhorn)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Slumming on Park Avenue (Berlin)
unidentified title
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Space Is the Place (Ra)
T87.10.3. Victoriaville Festival
Victoriaville, Qu bec, Canada. 10/3/87. Private recording, "incomplete concert". 90 min.
(Trent)
Astro Black (Ra)
The King of Mystery (Ra) (as duet; bs)
Mystery, Mr. Ra (Ra) (ens; ts)
Discipline 27-II - This World Is Not My Home - I'll Wait for
You - Angel Race (Ra)
unidentified title (Ra, p solo/)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; ens; bs; b)
Blue Lou
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, conducting, voc)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Slumming on Park Avenue (Berlin)
T87.10.4. Victoriaville Festival
Eglise Ste. Victoria, Victoriaville, Qubec. 10/4/87. Private recording, "incomplete
concert". 45 min. (Trent)
unidentified title (Allen, ob; fl; Ra, church organ)
Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington)
unidentified title (Ra, p; as)
Yeah Man!/I> (Sissle-Henderson)
unidentified blues
Discipline 27-II (incomplete)
T87.10.24. Leverkusener Jazztage
Leverkusen, West Germany. 10/24/87. Private recording. 90 min. (Webber and Trent)
(Kruempelmann lists a 130 min. tape. Trent says there are "several" tapes all told)
Discipline 27-II - I'll Wait for You (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein)
unidentified blues (Ra) (Ra, p; Williams, bs; b)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
unidentified title (Jacson, Infinity Drum; perc; danc)
Space Is the Place - We Travel the Spaceways - Outer
Spaceways Inc. - Journey to Saturn (Ra)
Christopher Columbus (Razaf-Berry) - See You Later
Alligator (trad.)
T87.12.6. Binghamton concert
Nelson Mandela Room, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 12/6/87. 93
min. Private recording off the board. (Russ)
unidentified fanfare
The Sun Is In the Heavens (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
Discipline 27-II (Ra; incl. This World Is Not My Home / Angel
Race / I'll Wait For You) (Ra & ens voc; prob. Davis, as)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra - voc)
untitled improvisation (Ra "conducting"; Allen, as ; Omoe, bcl, Abdullah, tp; prob.
Smith, d ; Gilmore, ts ; Billy Bang, vln)
Back Alley Blues (Ra) (good solo by Gilmore, ts; also Williams, bs; Bang,
vln)
Slumming on Park Avenue (Berlin) (Tyson, Jacson, Ra, prob. Ray and ens
voc)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Allen, as/)
'S Wonderful (Gershwin) (Ray, voc; Ra, p; Hill, tb; Gilmore, good ts solo)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (prob. Abdullah, voc; Abdullah says the male
vocalists were himself, Ray, and Gilmore)
Space Is the Place (Ra) (Tyson, voc; Williams, b; ens. voc.; Ra, syn; Ra, p; Ra
and ens. voc.)
We Travel The Spaceways / Outer Spaceways, Inc. / Journey
to Saturn / Saturn Rings / Rocket #9 / Second Stop Is
Jupiter / We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (Ra and ensemble voc.; not the
original tunes)
untitled improvisation (Jacson, Infinity Drum; Abdullah, tp (spectacular!); Ore, b;
Gilmore, c)
Yeah, Man! (Sissle-Henderson) (Ra, p; Gilmore, cl; Ray, tp; Gilmore, ts)
Mood Indigo (Tio-Bigard-Ellington-Mills) (Ra, p (Garnerish); Patrick, as; Ra, p
and keyb)
Over the Rainbow (Duke-Harburg) (short version, piano solo)
I Want to Be Happy (cuts off) (Ra, Jacson, Tyson, Ray, voc;
Ra, p; Bang, vln; Patrick, as; Ra, p; ensemble voc. with Tyson;
Ra, voc)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein) (Ra, p; Jacson, voc; Allen, as; Patrick,
as; Gilmore, cl (great solo); Ra, p; Ra, voc; band marches through audience)
T87b. Washington concert
Washington, DC. Private recording. 1987. (Szwed)
T88.4.30. Nuremberg concert
Nuernberg, West Germany. 4/30/88. Nearly complete private recording, 80 min.
(Kruempelmann and Trent; is some of this also on video?)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; Radford, eb; Williams, bs)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills)
Interstellar Low Ways (Ra)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Space Is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways / Outer
Spaceways Incorporated / Rocket Number Nine / 2nd Stop Is
Jupiter / Planet Saturn (Ra)
Encore: Outer Spaceways Incorporated (Ra)
T88.5.2. Munich concert
Muenchen, West Germany. 5/2/88. (Geerken)
T88.5.5 Linz concert
Linz, Austria. 5/5/88. (Geerken)
T88.5.8. Cologne concert
Koeln, West Germany. 5/8/88. Private tape, 140 min, complete concert.
(Kruempelmann, Trent, Webber)
unidentified title (Ra, p solo)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; Edwards, eg; Williams, bs; Radford, eb)
Retrospect (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Watusa (Ra)
unidentified title (Ra, p; Edwards, eg; as)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Mack the Knife (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein)
Fragile Emotions Blues (Ra)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra) /perc/
Space Is the Place (Ra) / Outer Spaceways Inc. (Ra) / Rocket
Number Nine (Ra) / We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
T88.6.1. Hamburg concert
Hamburg, West Germany. 6/1/88. Private recording, 125 min, nearly the complete
concert.
unidentified title (Ra, p; Edwards, eg; as)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; Radford, eb; Edwards, eg; tp; Ra, p)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Retrospect (Ra)
I Want To Be Happy
unidentified title (Radford, eb; Edwards, eg; Allen, ob)
The Sun Is in the Heavens / The King of Mystery / This World
Is Not My Home / I'll Wait for You (Ra)
Can You Take It? (Henderson)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills)
unidentified blues
Space Is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways / Next Stop
Mars (Ra)
T88.6.3. Bremerhaven concert
Bremerhaven, West Germany, 6/3/88. Radio broadcast. 65 min. (Webber)
unidentified ballad (Ra, p; Patrick, as)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
unidentified blues (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Retrospect (Ra)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills)
T88.7.3. New York concert
Knitting Factory, New York City, 7/3/88, second and third sets. 170 min. (Iannapollo)
Drop Me off in Harlem (Ellington)
Prelude to a Kiss
unidentified title
Beautiful Love (Gillespie-Young-etc.)
Shadow World (Ra) (16:59) (Ra, p; ensemble; Ra, keyb; Smith and Ali, d; Bang,
vln, and Ra, keyb; Abdullah, tp; Abdullah plus Ray, tp; Abdullah and Ray plus Evans,
flg; all 3 tps plus Hill, tb; Allen, as; Tyson, vln; Smith, Ali and P. Abdullah, d and perc;
Gilmore, falsetto ts)
unidentified title
unidentified blues (Ra) (13:16) (Ra, p; Edwards or LeBlanc, g; Bang, vln; Evans, flg;
Patrick, as)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills)
3 unidentified titles
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson) (2:26) (Gilmore, cl; Ray, tp; Gilmore, ts)
Days of Wine and Roses (Mancini)
Summertime (Gershwin)
'SWonderful (Gershwin)
Nuclear War (Ra)
T88.7.7. Pittsburgh concert
Graffiti Club, Pittsburgh, PA, 7/7/88. 65 min. (Pleshar and Webber)
untitled improvisation (Edwards, eg; ens)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (Allen, as)
This World Is Not My Home> (Ra) / I'll Wait for You (Ra) (Ra
and ens, voc)
I Thought I'd Visit You (Ra) ("This Goddamn planet with a gentle name; 'Life
means imprisonment'; "Why don't you come up and see me sometime?"; Ra and ens,
voc; Jenkins, croaking through funnel; Ray, voc; Smith and Ali, d)
Somewhere There (Ra) (Ra and ens, voc)
Daydream (Strayhorn) (Ra, p; Allen, as)
Nothin' from Nothin' (Patrick) /(Ra, p; Patrick, as; Hill, tb)
Sophisticated Lady (Carney-Mills-Ellington) (Ra, p; Hill, tb;
Gilmore, ts)
unidentified blues (Ra) (Ra, p; Edwards, eg)
Poinciana (Bernier-Simon) (title suggested by Russ)
Slumming on Park Avenue (Berlin)
T88.8.28. Lexington concert
Lexington, Kentucky. 8/28/88. Private recording, good sound. c. 75 min. (Szwed)
Insterstellar Low Ways (Ra) (Ra, p; Bang, vln; Scott, as; Ray, syn; ens. with fls;
Ra, p, syn; ens. with fls)
Sometimes the Universe Speaks (Ra) (Ra, voc; ens voc)BR>
I Have Many Names (Ra) (Ra, voc; ens voc)
Mystery, Mr. Ra (Ra) (Ra, voc; ens voc)
Angel Race (Ra)/ I'll Wait for You (Ra) / Why Go to the
Moon? (Ra) / We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) / Outer Spaceways
Incorporated (Ra)/ 2nd Stop Is Jupiter (Ra) / On Jupiter (Ra) /
Journey to Saturn (Ra) / Saturn Rings (Ra)
unidentified improvisation (Scott, as; Ray, tp; ens; Gilmore, falsetto ts; Smith and Ali, d;
Ray, syn; ens; Ra, syn; Ore, b; Bang, vln; Abdullah, tp; Omoe, bcl; Ra, syn)
East of the Sun (Bowman) /(Ra, p; Gilmore, voc; Ra, syn)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; Scott, as; Ore, b; Ra, p/)
Blue Lou (Sampson) (Scott, as; Abdullah, tp; Hill, tb; Gilmore, ts)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, syn; Ra, voc; fierce ens)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra) (Ra, p; Bang, vln; Tyson, vln; Ray, tp; Bang, vln; Jacson,
Infinity Drum; Ra and ens, voc)
unidentified blues (Ra, p; Bang, vln; Ore, b; Ra, p)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson) (Gilmore, cl; Abdullah, tp; Gilmore, ts)
Greetings from the 21st Century (Ra) (Ra, p; ens voc; Ra, syn; Ra and ens
vo)
T88.9a. Montreux / Detroit Festival
Detroit, Labor Day weekend, 1988. NPR broadcast from WDET-FM, Detroit, and
WEMU-FM, Ypsilanti. 60 min. Excerpted from a concert of nearly 2 hours. Good sound.
(Nik Subotic, Glenn Lea)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as)
Capoeira Dance (Machado, berimbau, voc, dance; Gato, dance; Silva and
Nascimento, perc, voc; Smith, d; Machado, berimbau; perc ens; Bang, vln; Abdullah, tp;
dance; Allen, as)
Discipline 27-II / This World Is Not My Home / I'll Wait for
You (Ra) (Ra, syn, p; Ra, voc; Tyson and ens. voc)
Greetings from the 21st Century / We Travel the Spaceways /
Outer Spaceways Inc. / Rocket Number Nine / We Travel the
Spaceways (Ra) (Ra, Tyson, ens., voc; Ray, tp; marching through audience; Bang,
vln)
Interview with Sun Ra (2-3 min.)
Somewhere over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg) (Ra, p solo)
I Want to Be Happy (Ra, p; Tyson, Ray, Abdullah, Jacson, voc; Bang, vln; Ra, p;
Bang, vln; Ra, voc, ens voc)
Slumming on Park Avenue (Berlin) (brief chant onl)
T88.9b. Chicago Jazz Festival
Chicago, Labor Day weekend 1988. c. 75 min. Broadcast over National Public Radio
(Russ and rlc)
Blue Lou (Sampson) (Scott, as; Abdullah, tp; Hill, tb; Ray, tp; Gilmore, ts)
Back Alley Blues (Ra) (Ra, p; eg on right; eg on left; Bang, vln; Ore, b; Ra, p;
Scott, as; Ra, p)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) (Ra, p; Ra, voc)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as)
Queer Notions (Hawkins) (Ra, p; Gilmore, ts; Abdullah, tp)
Sophisticated Lady (Carney-Ellington) (Ra, p; Hill, tb, incl. his favorite lick
from Big T; Ra, p; Gilmore, ts; Ra, p)
Egyptian Fantasy / I'll Wait for You / Angel Race (Ra)
(Gilmore, ts; Hill, tb; Ra, Tyson, ensemble voc.)
Outer Spaceways Inc. / We Travel the Spaceways / Next Stop
Mars (Ra) (Ra, Tyson, ensemble voc.)
(concert concludes with short interview with Sun Ra by Neil Tesser)
T88.9.30. Cambridge concert
Nightstage, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 9/30/88. 180 min. Audience recording, good
sound. (Byrd)
Astro Black (Ra)
Angel Race / I'll Wait for You (Ra)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin)
Alabama Blues (Ra)
Drop Me off in Harlem (Ellington)
Why Can't I Dream?
Can You Take It? (Henderson)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
untitled improvisation (Ra: "Fasten your seat belts, 'cause I'm gonna play something
that's gonna bust yo' skull", syn; Gilmore, ts)
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
unidentified title (Gilmore, ts; poss. Tyson, vln; Jenkins, space voice; Ra, syn;
incomplete)
unidentified fanfare (tp solo)
Somewhere over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
After Hours (Parrish)
Stardust for Tomorrow (Ra)
slow swing ballad
unidentified title (d, perc; fanfare
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin) (incomplete)
'Round Midnight (Hanighen-Williams-Monk)
Sophisticated Lady (Carney-Ellington)
Beautiful Love (Young-Gillespie-Coots-Van Alstyne) (Ra, voc)
Sometimes I'm Happy (?) (Ra, voc)
What Is This Thing Called Swing?
Henderson tune (?)
"Basie-type swing" (incomplete)
T88a. Concert of unknown origin
Unknown location, 1988. 70 min. (Pleshar and Webber)
'SWonderful (Gershwin)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
Springtime Again (Ra)
Limehouse Blues (Braham-Furber)
unidentified kind of Latin swing tune
Can You Take It? (Henderson) (incomplete)
Paper Moon (Rose-Harburg-Arlen) (Jenkins, voc)
Over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg) (piano solo)
Space is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways / Outer Spaceways,
Inc. / Rocket Number 9
T88b. Santa Cruz concert
Santa Cruz, California. 1988. 130 min. (Webber)
Introduction (ens, eg, tp)
Space Approach Prelude (ens, brass)
unidentified improvisation (tp, sax)
Discipline 27-II / This World Is Not My Home / Angel Race
/ Strange Worlds / Somebody Out There (Ra)
Nuclear War (Ra)
Queer Notions (Hawkins) (incomplete)
that slow theme again (like on Palomino)
unidentified blues (Ra)
unidentified standard (like on Palomino; "Cocktails for Two"?)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
I Want To Be Happy
improvisation (tb, fl)
percussion solos
improvisation (eg duet, ens, brass, as, b)
improvisation (as, syn)
unidentified ballad
Over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg)
unidentified blues (Ra) (incomplete)
T89.4.13. Dortmund concert
Dortmund, West Germany. 4/13/89. 130 min. Private recording. (Kruempelmann and
Trent)
Discipline 27-II (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra)
Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)
unidentified blues (Ra)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Whistle While You Work
The Second Star on the Right
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho
unidentified title (Frh, eg, tp, ts)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
Forest of No Return
I'm Wishing
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach)
unidentified blues (Ra)
Chloe (Song of the Swamp) (Moret-Kahn) (Priester, tb; Ra,voc)
When You Wish upon a Star
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
T89.4.29. Ulrichberg concert
Ulrichberg, Austria. 4/29/89. (Geerken)
T89.5.5. New Orleans concert
Marie C. Couvent Elementary School, New Orleans, 5/5/89. 50 min. Audience tape
with decent sound. (Pleshar) [A video tape of the concert also exists, ca. 55 minutes.
Moudry, 7/97]
Discipline 27-II / This World Is Not My Home / Angel Race /
I'll Wait for You (Ra) (Ra & ens voc.)
fast swing
swing tune (eg, ts, keyb)
The Forest of No Return (ens voc)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington-Mercer) (Allen, as)
fast swing
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho (ens voc, Scott, as)
Whistle While You Work (ens voc, Scott, as)
T89.7.19. New York concert
Lone Star Roadhouse, New York, 7/19/89. Audience tape, 160 min. (Webber)
Introduction (perc, tp, ens)
unidentified title (as; Art Jenkins, voc; ens)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
unidentified swing
Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)
unidentified swing
I'm Wishing
Queer Notions (Hawkins) (incomplete)
unidentified blues
I'm Gonna Unmask the Batman (Gibson-Abraham-Ra)
They'll Come Back (Ra)
Face the Music (Ra)
Let's Go Fly a Kite
Introduction (perc, fl, tp)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
unidentified swing (Ra, voc)
Sometimes I'm Happy (Caesar-Youmans)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Egyptian Fantasy (Ra) (incomplete)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Days of Wine and Roses (Mancini)
Fate in a Pleasant Mood (Ra)
Somewhere over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg)
Zippedy Doo Dah
drum solos (incomplete)
T89.7.22. New York concert
Knitting Factory, New York City. 7/22/89. 54 min. Pretty good sound but "brutally
edited", as Mark Webber would say. It is not clear how many sets the tape is taken
from. (Russ)
unidentified title (Ra, org)
Space Loneliness (Ra) (Ra, p; Evans, flg; Allen, as; Scott, as)
Discipline 27-II (Ra)
Destination Unknown (Ra) (Ra, voc; ens voc)
unidentified Brazilian dance (Allen, ob; Silva, Nascimento, and Machado, voc and
dance)
Astro Black (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
unidentified title (Ra, syn; prob. Brown, vln; incomplete)
T89.8.11. Cambridge concert
Nightstage, Cambridge, Mass. 8/11/89. 2 nearly complete sets. Audience recording
with excellent sound; piano recorded well. 180 min. (Sam Byrd)
Introduction (d; tp; tb; sax solos; ensemble; "call and response between a guy who
looked like an Oriental Mr. T and audience" (jungle sounds, etc.); fanfare; apparition of
the Ra)
Angel Race (Ra) (Ra, voc)
unidentified improvisation (Gilmore, ts; ens; Ra, voc, "You've lost your way -- you're
earthbound" and "What happened to your wings?")
East of the Sun (Ra) (Gilmore, voc)
Let's Go Fly a Kite
When You Wish upon a Star
Forest of No Return
unidentified blues (Ra, p)
Frisco Fog (Roberts-Carr)
unidentified riff tune (Ra, syn)
Destination Unknown (Ra)
Wishing Well
Face the Music (Ra) (ens voc; marching)
Introduction (d; b; tp; Hill, tb, Allen, ob, and d; perc; samba groove; free section; chant;
introduction of Sun Ra)
Somebody Else's World (Ra) (lasted 45 min! -- only 25 min on tape)
unidentified title (Gilmore, falsetto ts; Allen, fl)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach)
unidentified ballad (Ra, p; Ore, bowed b; muted tp)
fast swing piece (sax solo intro)
Friendly Galaxy (Ra)
Satellites are Spinning (Ra) (ens voc; marching)
T89.8.13. Maine Festival
Maine Festival, 8/13/89. 45 min. (Pleshar)
Space Is The Place / We Travel the Spaceways / Outer Spaceways,
Inc. / Rocket Number 9 / Saturn Rings / Why Go
to the Moon? (Ra)
Face the Music (Ra)
T89.8.19. Pittsburgh concert
Harambee II Black Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, PA, 8/19/89. 9 min.
T89.8.29. Hamburg concert
Fabrik, Altona, Hamburg, West Germany. 8/29/89. Private recording, 150 min.
(Kruempelmann and Trent)
Opus Springtime (Ra)
unidentified title (tb)
Caravan (Tizol)
unidentified title (perc, dance; Gilmore, ts; as)
unidentified title (ens)
Discipline 27-II / Neptune (perc, dance)
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
East of the Sun (Bowman) (Gilmore, voc)
unidentified blues (Scott, as; Ra, p)
Whistle While You Work
Let's Go Fly a Kite
I'm Wishing
Forest of No Return
Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)
I Dream Too Much (Kern) /Ra, voc/
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
We Travel the Spaceways / Rocket Number Nine / 2nd Stop Is
Jupiter / Outer Spaceways Incorporated (Ra)
T89.9.1. Willisau concert
Willisau, Switzerland. 9/1/89. Private recording, 120 min. (Kruempelmann and Trent)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (as; perc; dance)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Someday My Prince Will Come
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
unidentified blues
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Let's Go Fly a Kite
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (the 1960 version)
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra)
Space Is the Place / Outer Spaceways Incorporated / We
Travel the Spaceways / Saturn Rings (Ra)
unidentified title (Silva and Nascimento, perc and voc)
T89.9.28. Washington concert
9:30 Club, Washington, DC, 9/28/89. 140 min. (Webber; club identified by Abdullah)
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
unidentified swing (incomplete)
Watusa (incomplete)
All the Things You Are
If You Came from Nowhere Here (Ra)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Sophisticated Lady (Carney-Mills-Ellington)
unidentified blues (Ra)
Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey)
Rose Room (Williams-Hickman)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (Hammerstein-Romberg)
Space Is the Place - Neptune - 2nd Stop is Jupiter (Ra)
Greetings from the 21st Century (Ra)
Let's Go Fly a Kite
unidentified title
Enlightenment (Dotson-Ra)
Face the Music (Ra)
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