Happy 100th Birthday, Sun Ra

Comments

Sun Ra
Thursday marks the 100th birthday of Sun Ra (May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993; PeekYou profile here); jazz composer, bandleader, and keyboardist. Also, arguably one of the most genuinely unique and visionary artists that America ever produced.

Perhaps he wasn’t born 100 years ago, but merely arrived here from Saturn — as he often claimed that he was always just visiting — around that time.

Never adhering to the conventions of any style or genre, the famously fastidious and intimidatingly prolific Ra was a complete original. While starting off on the surface as a fairly traditional jazz musician, by the mid-50s he’d formed his revolutionary big band, The Arkestra; who remained his group until his dying day. Arkestra gigs were happenings, by turns joyous and mind-bending. In addition to all the extraordinary instrumentation and improvisation — brought forth by such greats as the late tenor sax player, John Gilmore, and alto player Marshall Allen (the latter of whom, at the ripe young age of 90, leads the Arkestra in its current form) — the performances would feature, at various times, jugglers, dancers, fire-eaters, and hugely encouraged crowd participation.

The Sun Ra ethos was one of a sort of afro-futurism; a kind of mixture of African and Egyptian mysticism, with a decidedly science-fiction slant. Echoes of the aesthetic resonate throughout many facets of the culture to this day. But, we’re not a sociology nor music blog, and we’d really hate to reduce such a beautiful and complex creation in this context. Just refer to any video of the Arkestra, for clarity.

Here Sun Ra and the group takes on another American genius, in the most beautiful way imaginable. Behold. And visit Sun Ra’s PeekYou profile for much more on the exceptional life he lived, and staggering work he created, during his time visiting this planet.