Part 5: 1991-1993
unidentified title (perc; ens)
Tapestry from an Asteroid (Ra)
unidentified title (ens; as)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Mythic 1 (Tyson, vln; tp; Jacson, bsn; Allen, ob)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Face the Music (Ra)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
I Dream Too Much (Kent)
I Want To Be Happy
unidentified blues
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra)
Frisco Fog (Carr, Roberts)
Down Here on the Ground (Schifrin, Garnett)
We Travel the Spaceways / Outer Spaceways Inc. / 2nd Stop Jupiter (Ra)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Noel Scott-as, poss. bcl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, voc; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Ra-keyb, voc; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; June Tyson, voc-vln. [Trent]
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Frisco Fog (Carr, Roberts)
Hours After (Ra) (blues)
Yeah Man! (Sissle, Henderson)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Planet Earth Day (aka Mythic 1) (Ra)
Face the Music (Ra) (incomplete on the tape)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; poss. Chris Capers-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p, keyb; John Ore-b; prob. Buster Smith-d; June Tyson-voc. Titles announced on broadcast. We Travel the Spaceways was announced but not included on tape. [Trent]
Introduction (march fanfare; tp; Jenkins, voc with squawks of ÒRa Ra RaÓ; Gilmore, ts; dirge; d; Ra, org)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin)
Frisco Fog (Roberts, Carr)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
Springtime Again (Ra) (Tyson, voc)
Down Here on the Ground (Schifrin, Garnett)
Watusa (Ra)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
unidentified blues
Sunset on the Nile (Ra) (incomplete)
"An Evening of Cosmic Celebration and Intergalactic Harmonies with
Sun Ra and his Arkestra": Ra-p, syn, voc; Michael Ray-tp; Jothan Callins-tp; Fred Adams-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Christopher Capers-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, perc; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; Clifford Barbaro-d; Elson Nascimento-perc; Jorge Silva-perc; Ted Thomas (Thomas Thaddeus)-perc; Spencer Weston-perc; June Tyson-vln, voc. [Tunes identified by Byrd; personnel from concert program, which also mentions John Ore-b (he wasn't there).]
The show was reviewed by Bob Blumenthal in the Boston Globe on April 1 or 2.
In April 1990, the Omniverse Arkestra appeared in Istanbul under the sponsorship of Pozitif Vibrations. Personnel on that occasion: Abdullah, Ray, and Callins-tps; Hill and Priester-tb; Allen and Scott-as; Gilmore-ts, cl; Jacson-bsn, fl, perc; Ra-p, syn, voc; Ore-b; Buster Smith and Eric Walker-d; Nascimento-perc; Tyson-voc, dance. (Personnel from program booklet, courtesy Trudy Morse, with the addition of Ahmed Abdullah)
unidentified title (perc; ens)
The Mystery of Two (Ra)
Never Never Land (Ra)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
unidentified title (Jenkins, space voice; Ray and Abdullah, tp; Allen, as; Tyson, vln; Ra, keyb; good improvs. and ensembles)
Mythic 1 (Ra)
Satellites are Spinning (Ra)
Watusa (Ra)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin)
Friendly Galaxy (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; poss. Chris Capers or Jothan Callins-tp, flg; Tyrone Hill-tb; Noel Scott-as; Marshall Allen-as, fl, picc; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p, keyb, voc; prob. Jothan Callins-eb; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; Elson Nascimento-perc; Jorge Silva-perc; June Tyson-voc, vln; Art Jenkins-voc, space voice. [Trent with correction by Abdullah]
Never Never Land does not appear in the Disney movie Peter Pan, and so presumably is a Ra tune. [Trent]
"First time ever playing without Gilmore. Sun Ra is very ill, falling asleep at piano." [Abdullah]
1st set:
Introduction (perc, tp)
New Orleans tune #1 (New Orleans style ensemble; "Sun Ra plays Kid Thomas")
Lights on a Satellite (Ra) (Art Jenkins, space voice)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
Mythic 1 (Ra)
Can You Take It? (Henderson)
Days of Wine and Roses (Mancini)
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra)
Cocktails for Two (Coslow-Johnston) (Allen, as)
'SWonderful (Gershwin) (Ray, falsetto voc)
Alone Together (Dietz-Schwartz) (Ray and Jenkins, vocal burlesque duet)
Let's Go Fly a Kite (ens voc)
2nd set:
untitled improvisation
New Orleans tune #2 (perc; growl tp and tb)
Space Loneliness (Ra) (Ray, tp)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Springtime Again (Ra)
unidentified title (Ra, p; Art Jenkins, croaking through funnel; Allen, as; Ray and Abdullah, tp; Ra, keyb)
Down Here on the Ground (Schifrin-Garnett) (Ra, voc)
What's New? (Burke-Haggart) (top-flight ts by Gilmore)
Slippery Horn (Ellington)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin)
The Rainmaker (Ra) (Abdullah & Ray, tp; Ra, keyb; Gilmore, ts)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
unidentified blues (Ra)
Space Is the Place - We Travel the Spaceways - On Jupiter - Outer Spaceways Inc. (Ra)
Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Solar Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p, keyb, voc; Bruce Edwards-eg; Jothan Callins-eb, poss. tp; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; Elson Dos Santos Nascimento-perc; Jorge Silva-perc; Art Jenkins-voc; June Tyson-voc. [tunes Trent and Webber; Slippery Horn identified by rlc]
"Both this and the Lingerie tapes are of excellent quality." [Webber] Thanks to Jeff Crompton for identifying the composers of Down Here on the Ground. Did Jothan Callins arrange the "New Orleans tunes"?
These concerts were part of a cross-country tour "with Sun Ra in wheelchair." [Abdullah]
1st set:
Cosmo Prelude (Ra)
For the Blue People (Ra) (perc; Jenkins, voc; tp; as)
Springtime Again (Ra)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
unidentified blues
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Dancing Shadows (Ra)
Mythic 1 (Ra)
Infinity Drum solo
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
2nd set:
Intro (heavy perc incl. the Brazilians, tp and tb)
Planet Earth (Ra) (Scott impersonating Patrick, as; ens. voc; Ray, tp; Allen, as; Ra, p)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg) (Ra, p; Allen, as)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Down Here on the Ground (Schifrin-Garnett) (Ra, voc)
Happy as the Day Is Long (Arlen-Koehler)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin) (location in concert is uncertain)
The Rain Maker (Ra)
Daydream (Strayhorn-Ellington)
Space Chants: Space Is the Place - Rocket Number Nine - 2nd Stop Is Jupiter - We Travel the Spaceways - Destination Unknown (Ra)
Face the Music (Ra)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, perc; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p, keyb, voc; Bruce Edwards-eg; Jothan Callins-eb; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; Elson Dos Santos Nascimento-perc; Jorge Silva-perc; Art Jenkins-voc; June Tyson-voc. [Trent; track identifications by Webber and Trent]
This concert was also recorded on DAT. [Abdullah]
1st set:
Introduction
I'll Wait for You (Ra)
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Blue Delight (Ra)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
Face the Music (Ra)
2nd set:
Introduction
A Lost Horizon (Ra)
Drum Duel
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Daydream (Strayhorn)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra) (incomplete)
Space Is the Place - Outer Spaceways Inc. - Rocket Number 9 (Ra) (incomplete)
Ra-keyb, voc, Michael Ray-tp, voc, Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc, Jothan Callins-tp, Chris Capers-tp, flg, Tyrone Hill-tb, voc, Marshall Allen-as, EVI, fl, Noel Scott-as, perc, John Gilmore-ts, perc, James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, June Tyson-vln, voc, John Ore-b, Buster Smith-d, Clifford Barbaro-d; Elson Nascimento-perc, Ron McBee-perc, Jorge Silva-perc; Kwasi Asare-African perc. Plus ensemble vocals. [Webber, corrected by Abdullah, who says that Capers arrived late. Asare is Ghanaian and resides in Manchester, England]
This concert was part of a mini-tour of England. The Arkestra (same personnel) also played at London University and the Mean Fiddler gig released on Live in London 1990. [Abdullah]
A concert at the Frog Island Jazz/Blues Festival, Ypsilanti, Michigan, was recorded and broadcast over WEMU-FM in summer 1990. It featured many Disney tunes and an excellent performance of Somewhere over the Rainbow. "The best of the [80s] Michigan shows IMO." Unfortunately the tape is missing from the radio station. [Subotic]
1st set:
Introduction
Astro Black (Ra)
drum solos
band improvisation
keyboard improvisation (Ra)
Over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Face the Music (Ra) (incomplete)
East of the Sun (Bowman) (incomplete)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
2nd set:
untitled improvisation (thunderous perc and tp)
The Antique Blacks (Ra) (Ra, declamation; "They're on the right road, they're going the wrong direction"; fanfare)
Discipline 27-II / I'll Wait for You (Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
unidentified blues (Ra)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra) (fades up)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Door of the Cosmos / Destination Unknown / We Travel the Spaceways / Outer Spaceways Inc. / Rocket Number 9 / On Jupiter / Planet Saturn / Calling Planet Earth / How Long You
Been Dead?
Nothing Is / They'll Come Back / Sun Ra Philosophies (Ra joking with the crowd and expressing "cosmic thoughts")
The Arkestra: Personnel similar to Liverpool concert. [Abdullah; tune list from Webber]
The Arkestra performed at the Brecon Jazz Festival on 8/19, with Slim Gaillard as MC. [Abdullah]
1st set:
Introduction
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Space Loneliness (Ra)
Face the Music (Ra) (incomplete)
2nd set:
untitled improvisation (perc, tb, tp)
Pink Elephants on Parade
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
unidentified swing (Scott, as)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg)
I've Got Rhythm (Gershwin)
If You Came from Nowhere Here (Ra) (incomplete)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
unidentified swing tune
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
unidentified title (as duo; tp; ens; keyb)
We Travel the Spaceways - Destination Unknown (Ra)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Marshall Allen-as; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; rest unidentified.
An interview with Sun Ra taken from this gig appeared in The Guardian on 8/23/90. [Fligelstone] "It really should have been on video because they were dancing on the ceiling." [Abdullah]
A Lost Horizon (Ra)
unidentified title (ens; Gilmore, ts)
unidentified title (Ra, p; Ore, b; Tyson, vln)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
I Dream Too Much (Kern)
Stardust from Tomorrow (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
unidentified blues
Face the Music (Ra)
Mythic 1 (Ra)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
Big John's Special (H. Henderson)
Interstellar Low Ways (Ra)
Down Here on the Ground (Schifrin-Garnett)
Space Is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways / 2nd Stop Jupiter / On Jupiter (Ra)
The Arkestra: Ra-p, syn, voc, Michael Ray-tp, voc, Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc, poss. Jothan Callins-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb, Marshall Allen-as, fl, Noel Scott-as, John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, June Tyson-voc, vln, John Ore-b, Clifford Barbaro-d, Earl "Buster" Smith-d, Ron McBee-cga, perc, Jorge Silva-perc, Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc. [Trent]
1st set:
unidentified title (ens)
Astro Black (Ra)
unidentified title (solos, ens.)
unidentified title (Allen, ob; Cooke, vln; Ra, p)
unidentified title (theme; as; Cooke, vln; Gilmore, ts)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Allen, as)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (beginning has been cut; also cut is a performance of Hocus Pocus that came before it)
Blue Lou (Sampson)
Face the Music (Ra)
2nd set:
unidentified title (Singh, tabla; Cooke, vln; Killion, cello; Ore, b)
Discipline 27-II / I'll Wait for You (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Somewhere over the Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Cooke, vln; C. Davis, bs; Ra, p, syn; Allen, as)
Frisco Fog (Carr-Roberts)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
unidentified blues (Scott, as; prob. Ray, tp; Ra, p; Ore, b)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
encore:
They'll Come Back (Ra)
Sun Ra and his Year 2000 Myth Science Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp, voc; Jothan Callins-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, picc, ob; Noel Scott-as, bcl; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; Charles Davis-bs; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Ra-p, keyb, voc; India Cooke-vln; Kash Killion-clo; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; Clifford Barbaro-d; Talvin Singh-tabla, voc; unidentified-perc; Elson Nascimento-perc; June Tyson-voc. "Magnificent string trio passages." [Trent, based on observation; uncertain identifications corrected from the credits to Pleiades; Killion and Cooke identified by Dan Plonsey; was Kwasi Asare on board for this gig? Singh's full name courtesy of a reviewer in The Wire
A documentary based on this concert is planned. [Trent]
The Arkestra completed seven trips to Europe in 1990. [Abdullah] At a Town Hall gig (New York) with Oliver Lake's big band, 9/21, Sun Ra seemed very tired. Subotic reports a rather weak show at Orchestra Hall in Detroit around this time. Sun Ra suffered his first stroke in November 1990. The Arkestra appeared in France in April 1991 (see Friendly Galaxy); that must have been the first tour after Ra got out of rehab. The spring tour of New York State followed immediately.
Space Joy (Ra)
unidentified title
Springtime Again (Ra)
unidentified title
Early Autumn (Herman-Mercer-Burns) (Gilmore, ts)
unidentified title
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Allen, as; TCIII, voc)
Retrospect (Ra)
Space Train (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
The Arkestra included: Ra-keyb; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, perc; Noel Scott-as, handstands; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; James Jacson-bsn, perc; unidentified male vocalist, prob. Mr. TCIII; June Tyson-voc; others unidentified. According to Dupont, there were 20+ musicians [Iannapollo and Dupont]
David Dupont reviewed this concert in Cadence, 17 (6), pp. 64-65 (June 1991).
untitled improvisation (prob. Adams, tp; Ra, syn)
Somebody Else's Idea (Ra) (Tyson, voc; Allen, fl; Ra, p; Tyson and ensemble, voc; Ra, syn; Capers, flg)
East of the Sun (Bowman) (Ra, p; Gilmore, voc; prob. Adams, tp; Ra, p)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington-Mercer) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ra, p)
Blue Lou (Sampson) (Scott, as; Abdullah, tp; Gilmore, ts)
Retrospect (Ra) (Ra, p, syn; Capers, flg; Ra, p; Ore, b)
Early Autumn (Herman-Mercer-Burns) (Ra, p; Callins, flg -- doing Hobart Dotson-like lead in a modification of the 1961 arrangement; Gilmore, ts; Ra, p)
Friendly Galaxy (Ra) (Abdullah, tp; Allen, fl; Gilmore, cl; Ra, p)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Ra, p; Gilmore, Tyson, and ensemble, voc; Allen, fl; Ra, p; Tyson and ens. voc.)
Nameless One #2 (Ra) (Abdullah, tp; Scott, as; Callins, tp; Ore, b)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra) (Allen, fl; Capers, flg; Tyson and ensemble, voc.; poss. Hill, voc; marching through the
audience)
Encore:
They'll Come Back (Ra) (Tyson and ens. voc.)
Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Arkestra: Ra-p, syn; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Jothan Callins-tp, flg; Chris Capers-flg; Marshall Allen-as, fl, picc; Noel Scott-as, perc; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; James Jacson-bsn, perc; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; poss. Clifford Barbaro-d; Lorimil Machado-berimbau, perc; Elson Nascimento-perc; June Tyson-voc. [rlc, with help from Abdullah; note also personnel on Friendly Galaxy.]
Introduction
Astro Black (Ra)
Opus in Springtime (Ra)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin)
Shadow World (Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Planet Earth Day (Mythic 1) (Ra)
Space Loneliness (Ra)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Planet Earth (vocal version) - Rocket Number Nine (Ra)
Sun Ra & Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Jothan Callins-tp; Fred Adams-tp; unknown-tp; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc; unknown-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, EVI, voc; John Gilmore-ts, perc, voc; James Jacson-bsn, perc; Charles Davis-bs; Bruce Edwards-eg; unknown-b; unknown-d; Eddy Thomas-perc; Elson Nascimento-surdo; June Tyson-vln, voc. [Fitzgerald with help on the tunes by Webber]
unidentified title
Friendly Galaxy (Ra)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson) (3:42) (Gilmore, cl; Hill, tb; Gilmore, ts; Abdullah, tp)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
unidentified title
2nd Stop Is Jupiter (Ra)
unidentified title
I'll Wait for You (Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (5:15) (Ra, keyb; Allen, fl; Tyson plus Abdullah or Gilmore, voc)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin) (6:29) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ra, keyb)
unidentified titles
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
Sun Ra and his 21st Century Cosmic Echoes Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; unidentified-tp, flg; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, perc; John Gilmore-ts, cl, EVI, perc, voc; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; unknown-vla; unknown-eb; unknown-d; Jorge Silva-perc; Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc; June Tyson-voc, vln. [Iannapollo]
Jacson steps up to the mike and takes over the Danny Thompson role...
1st set:
Introduction (perc; Hill, tb; tp; Capers, flg; Tyson, vln)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Lights on a Satellite (Ra)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson)
The Lion of the Heavens (Ra)
Friendly Galaxy (Ra)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Yeah Man! (Sissle-Henderson)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
2nd set:
Introduction (perc; Hill, tb; tp; voc; Allen, as)
Interstellar Low Ways (Ra)
Sometimes I'm Happy (Youmans)
'SWonderful (Gershwin)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
They'll Come Back (Ra)
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Mythic 1 (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Nameless One #2 (Ra)
Retrospect (Ra)
Sun Ra and his Ultra Omniverse 21st Century Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc; Marshall Allen-as, fl, EVI, recorder; John Gilmore-ts, cl, timbales, voc; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Ra-keyb; June Tyson-vln, voc; unidentified-d; Kwasi Asare-perc; Elson Nascimento-perc. [Trent, based on observation; Capers relayed Ra's tune choices to the rest of the band; Asare identified by Abdullah.]
Greetings from the 21st Century (Ra)
unidentified title
Friendly Galaxy (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Lights on a Satellite (8:18) (Ra) (Ra, p; Gilmore, ts; Ra, keyb; Capers, flg; Gilmore, ts)
Shadow World, part 1 (Ra)
Shadow World, part 2 (Ra)
They'll Come Back (6:25) (Ra) (Ra, p; Tyson plus ensemble voc)
'SWonderful (Gershwin)
East of the Sun (Bowman)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
unidentified title
Interstellar Low Ways (Ra)
They Plan to Leave (Ra)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra)
[Iannapollo]
The Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb; poss. Fred Adams-tp; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, perc; John Gilmore-ts, cl, perc; James Jacson-bsn, fl, perc; Bruce Edwards-eg; unidentified-eb; Buster Smith-d, announcement; Elson Nascimento-perc; June Tyson-voc, vln. [Iannapollo and rlc]
On November 1-3, 1991, the Arkestra played in Oakland, California. On this occasion local musicians India Cooke (vln), Kash Killion (clo), Ronald Wilson (bs), and Eddie Gale (tp) were included. [Plonsey]
Friendly Galaxy (Ra)
(ballad) (Anderson, p with Ra, syn)
Shadow World (Ra)
Ankhnaton (Ra)
Love In Outer Space (Ra)
(ballad) (Anderson, p with Ra, syn)
(fast swing)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) (Gilmore and Tyson, voc)
Sun Ra and his All-Star Inventions: Sun Ra-syn; John Gilmore-ts, voc; Chris Anderson-p; Bruce Edwards-eg; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; June Tyson-voc on Theme of the Stargazers only. [Fitzgerald]
This was originally John Gilmore's gig. [Abdullah] Nothing from this set was included in the At the Village Vanguard CD, according to Fitzgerald.
unknown titles
Sun Ra and his All-Star Inventions: Sun Ra-syn; John Gilmore-ts, voc; Chris Anderson-p; Bruce Edwards-eg; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d.
Supposedly all six nights of this gig (11/12-17/91) were taped. [Szwed] Five tracks from this stand are now on 126a, At the Village Vanguard. June Tyson may have made more than one guest appearance with the group.
The Arkestra: John Gilmore-ts; Michael Williams-ts; Sun Ra-keyb; June Tyson-voc; rest unidentified.
Astro Black (Ra)
Interplanetary Music (Ra)
Deep Purple (DeRose-Parish)
Planet Earth Day (=Mythic 1) (Ra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
These Foolish Things
Shadow World (Ra)
Opus in Springtime (Ra)
Space Is the Place (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
Sun Ra and Arkestra: Ra-p, keyb; Michael Ray-tp, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Jothan Callins-tp; Fred Adams-tp; unidentified-tp; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc; Marshall Allen-as, fl, EVI, perc; John Gilmore-ts, perc; James Jacson-bsn, perc; Michael Williams-ts, fl, perc; Bruce Edwards-eg; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; Elson Nascimento-surdo; Art Jenkins-voc, perc; June Tyson-vln, voc. [Fitzgerald; Jared Crawford photos taken at the Knitting Factory, 2/92, show similar lineup with the addition of Kenny Williams on baritone sax; Michael Williams identified by Trent, as was the composition called Planet Earth Day on this occasion.]
Introduction (perc, syn)
Sun Ra Poems (Trudy Morse, recitation; "rudimentary backing" from Arkestra)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington)
Nameless One #2 (Ra)
These Foolish Things
Shadow World (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (incomplete)
The Arkestra: Michael Ray-tp; Fred Adams-tp; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Ra-p, syn; John Ore-b; Earl "Buster" Smith-d; Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc; Trudy Morse-recitation. [Tunes Webber; personnel from the concert program, courtesy of Trudy Morse.]
2nd set:
Planet Earth Day (Ra)
Space Loneliness (Ra)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
Space Aura (Ra)
Unforgettable
Queer Notions (Hawkins)
Lights On A Satellite (Ra)
unidentified title (bright theme; Hill, tb)
Interplanetary Music (Ra)
Encore:
They'll Come Back (Ra)
The Arkestra: Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Michael Ray-tp, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb, Marshall Allen-as, fl; James Jacson-bsn, Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p, keyb; Bruce Edwards-eg; Jothan Callins-eb; Buster Smith-d; Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga.
"The personnel is based on observation, backed by Buster Smith's announcement at the end of each set (he omits several people each time, but does manage to mention everyone at least once!)." The photocopied publicity leaflet is seriously inaccurate. [Trent]
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Ra, p; Allen, as; Ray, voc; Abdullah, voc; Allen, as)
Hocus Pocus (Hudson) (Ray, tp; Hill, tb; Abdullah, tp)
Retrospect (Ra) (Ra, p; Abdullah, tp)
Love in Outer Space (Ra) (Ra, p; Ray and ens, voc; Jacson, fl)
Interstellar Low Ways (Ra) (Ra, p; Ray, tp; Allen, as; Ra, p)
Nameless One #2 (Ra) (Ra, p; Hill, tb; Ra, p; Edwards, eg; Smith, d)
Alabama (Jothan Callins) (Abdullah, tp; Hill, tb; Ra, p; Edwards, eg; Callins, eb)
Mythic 2 (Ra) (Allen, fl; Ra, p; Ray, declamation ("You're on the right road, but you're going in the wrong direction"); perc; Ra, syn; ens voc)
Blue Lou (Sampson) (Edwards, eg; Ray, tp; Hill, tb; Allen, as)
Friendly Galaxy (Ra) (Abdullah, tp; Ra, p; Allen, fl; Edwards, eg emulating Calvin Newborn; Ra, p)
Cocktails for Two (Coslow-Johnston) (Allen, as; Edwards, eg)
The Shadow World (Ra) (strangely subdued version; Ra, p; Allen, as; Ray, tp; Allen, as)
Space Loneliness (Ra) (Bourbon Street bump and grind version; Edwards, eg; Hill, tb with plunger)
Theme of the Stargazers (Ra) (Ray, Abdullah, and Hill, voc; Ra, syn; Abdullah, voc; Atakatune, cga; Ra, syn; incomplete)
Sun Ra and his Omniverse Ultra 21st Century Arkestra: Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Michael Ray-tp, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc, Marshall Allen-as, fl; James Jacson-bsn, fl, Infinity Drum; Sun Ra-p, keyb; Bruce Edwards-eg; Jothan Callins-eb; Buster Smith-d; Elson Nascimento-perc; Stanley Morgan (Atakatune)-cga. [Titles rlc; personnel from Buster Smith's announcement; he refers to Callins as "our arranger".]
Discipline 27 (Ra)
I'll Wait For You (Ra)
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Shadow World (Ra)
Opus in Springtime (Ra)
Spontaneous Simplicity (Ra)
We Travel the Spaceways (Ra)
Sun Ra & His Chicago Reminiscence Orchestra: Ra-p, keyb; Michael Ray-tp, voc; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Fred Adams-tp, voc; Jothan Callins-tp; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc; Craig Harris-tb; Vincent Chancey-Frh; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, perc, voc; James Jacson-bsn, perc; Charles Davis-bs; Owen Brown-vln; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; June Tyson-vln, voc; Alzo Wright-perc; Teddy Thomas-perc; Eric Walker-d, perc; Elson Nascimento-perc. [Fitzgerald; must be one of June Tyson's last appearances.]
1st set is all swing tunes, 2nd set is all outside! Details need filling in.
Sun Ra had to give up playing and touring after suffering a stroke during the last week of October 1992. Gigs were canceled for the next couple of weeks but after that the Arkestra began to appear without him under the direction of John Gilmore.
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (Hammerstein-Romberg) (Scott, as; interruption in tape; Ore, b)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (theme statement only)
Of the Other Tomorrow (Ra) (perc; Morse, recitation; Bang, vln; Smith, d; Allen, as; Abdullah, tp; Choice, vib; perc; ens)
Prelude No. 7 (Chopin) (Allen, as; Edwards, eg; Capers, flg; Allen, as)
What I Thought I Am I Am Not / I'll Wait for You (Ra) (Morse, recitation; ens voc; fades out)
The Arkestra under the direction of John Gilmore: Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Fred Adams-tp; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Billy Bang-vln; Bruce Edwards-eg; Damon Choice-vib; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; Craig Haynes-d; Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc; Teddy Thomas (Thomas Thaddeus)-perc, dance; Trudy Morse-recitation. [Morse]
A second Sun Ra tribute by Trudy Morse was recorded 3/21/93 at Radio Station KUMN in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She recites Sun Ra poems over Ra recordings from the station's archives.
1st set tunes included:
Ankh (Ra) (Allen, as; Bang, vln; 3rd tp; Allen, as)
Enlightenment (Ra) (Hill, tb)
Blues at Midnight (Ra) (Gilmore, ts; Ray, tp; Allen, as)
Strange Mathematic Rhythmic Equations (Ra) (ens voc)
Face the Music (Ra) (ens voc)
2nd set tunes included:
Love in Outer Space (Ra)
Sunset on the Nile (Ra)
other "Afro-space-groove" pieces
poetry reading by Trudy Morse
The Arkestra under the leadership of John Gilmore: Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Michael Ray-tp; Fred Adams-tp; Chris Capers-flg; poss. Al Evans-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; poss. Kenny Williams-ts, bs; James Jacson-bsn, fl, perc; Bruce Edwards-eg; Stanley Jordan-eg (2nd set only); Billy Bang-vln; Owen Brown-vln; John Ore-b; unidentified-eb; Buster Smith-d; Craig Haynes-d; Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc; Lorimil Machado-berimbau, dance with fire sticks; poss. Teddy Thomas (Thomas Thaddeus)-perc; Trudy Morse-poetry reading; Imamu Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones)-recitation. Also featured a slide show. [Marcel-Franck Simon, Jeff Eldredge, and Trudy Morse]
Ray and Allen played at times through an effects box attached to Ray's microphone. There were a total of 25 musicians: "another 7, the number of completion" [Abdullah] Were Noel Scott and Damon Choice present?
Of Stanley Jordan's outside solo during the second set, let John Gilmore have the verdict: "The cat was smokin'"
The Man from the Sun (Neal) (poetry reading by Gaston Neal)
Discipline 27-II (Ra) (Hill, tb; Allen, as; Abdullah, tp; Bang, vln; Ore, b)
untitled free jam (Gilmore and Allen, EVIs; Williams, bs; Callins, flg; Allen, as; Ray, tp; Smith, d; Haynes, d; Walker, d; Sanders, ts)
Prelude to a Kiss (Ellington) (Allen, as; Ray and Abdullah, voc; Allen, as; Edwards, eg)
Watusa (Ra) (perc ens; Bang, vln; Jacson, Infinity Drum; cga; Choice, vib; Walker, d; Haynes, d; Smith, d)
Alabama (Jothan Callins) (Adams, tp; Williams, bs; Edwards, eg; Bang, vln; Ore, b)
Face the Music (Ra) (Allen, as; Ray, Abdullah, Gilmore, Hill, and ens, voc)
Space Is the Place / We Travel the Spaceways (Ra) (Ray, tp; Hill, tb; Gilmore and ens, voc)
The Arkestra under the direction of John Gilmore: Jothan Callins-tp, flg; Fred Adams-tp; Michael Ray-tp, voc; Chris Capers-flg; Ahmed Abdullah-tp, voc; Tyrone Hill-tb, voc; Marshall Allen-as, EVI, voc; John Gilmore-ts, EVI, voc; Pharoah Sanders-ts (third piece only); Kenny Williams-ts, bs; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum, voc; Billy Bang0-vln; Bruce Edwards-eg; John Ore-b; Damon Choice-vib; Buster Smith-d; Craig Haynes-d; Eric "Samurai Celestial" Walker-d; Jorge Silva-perc; Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc; unidentified, cga; Eddy Thomas Thomas Thaddeus)-perc, dance; Gaston Neal-poet; Trudy Morse-recitation. [Tunes Pleshar and Trent; personnel Pleshar and rlc]
The broadcast also included an opening performance by the Sonny Sharrock group with Pharoah Sanders (60 min.)
The Arkestra under the direction of John Gilmore: Ahmed Abdullah-tp; Fred Adams-tp; Chris Capers-flg; Tyrone Hill-tb; Marshall Allen-as, fl, ob, kora; Noel Scott-as; John Gilmore-ts; Kenny Williams-ts, bs; James Jacson-bsn, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum; Billy Bang-vln; Owen Brown, Jr.-vln; Damon Choice-vib; Bruce Edwards-eg; John Ore-b; Buster Smith-d; Craig Haynes-d; Elson Nascimento-surdo, perc; Teddy Thomas (Thomas Thaddeus)-perc, dance; Art Jenkins-voc; Trudy Morse-recitation. {General Arkestra personnel from Trudy Morse; no guarantee that everyone was there.
The Arkestra under the direction of John Gilmore: personnel similar to the previous date.
On 9/12/93, the Arkestra appeared at the Lake George Performing Arts Center, Lake George, NY. Tapes, anyone?
1st set:
unidentified titles
2nd set:
unidentified titles
The Arkestra under the direction of John Gilmore: personnel incl. Michael Ray-tp; Marshall Allen-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts; Kenny Williams-ts, bs; John Ore-b; Trudy Morse-recitation; Willis Conover-announcer.
163 concert tapes and 40 videos.
Robert L. Campbell
913 Berkeley Drive
Clemson, SC 29631 USA
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