Sun Ra

A double cd that showcases both the prolific output and unparalleled creative verve of Sun Ra, the man who created his own genre. Upgrading his celebrated band The Arkestra to the rank of Solar Myth Arkestra, the bandleader-composer-pianist-keyboardist produced enough music in his lifetime to fill a universe, and these sessions, though their precise date and place of recording remain unknown, are among the finest he released in the ‘70, which was an action-packed decade for him. 

Featuring revered Arkestra members such as saxophonists John Gilmore, Danny Davis and Marshall Allen, drummers Clifford Jarvis, Lex Humphries and Nimrod Hunt and the charismatic singer June Tyson, The Solar Myth Approach Vol.1& 2 are invigorating albums that show Sun Ra taking the big band aesthetic of his role model Duke Ellington into thrilling new territory. Ra reflects his profound interest in a wide range of non-western cultures as well as state of the art electronics and homemade instruments. Often conjuring up ancient ceremony and ritual, the music puts a new spin on the model of theme and improvisation, and also shows the enduring Afro-centricity of Ra’s imagination, which often makes a virtue of intricate percussion.

This re-mastered version of the albums provides a chance to enjoy the finer points of music that reveals more layers with every listen. More than half a century after their creation, The Solar Myth Approach Vol.1 & 2 are an epic journey into sound.