Sun Ra Arkestra Face the Music
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, October 20, 2018
by Maja Rios
I can’t help being nostalgic about of the greatest bands in jazz history, Sun Ra Arkestra began in the 1950’s, led by late pianist/poet bandleader, “Sun-Ra” whose legal name was Herman Poole Blount. He conceived of a futuristic jazz orchestra of the song, poetry, dance, glittering costumes, that no one in jazz before or since has duplicated. Sun Ra was also a lyricist/poet and wrote his own words to original compositions performed by the Arkestra, and they served to separate the band from its more conventional peers, as messages abound and are continued to this day with 90 years plus, bandleader and original member, Marshall Allen(alto sax)at helm. Marshall embodies the old and new spirit of the Arkestra do many of the original members and remaining horn players, Danny Thompson(manager and saxophonist), Knoel Scott(saxophonist/dancer), who does incredible backflips at 60plus years…Vocal duties are well represented by current vocalist, Tara Middleton, who replaces the lead vocal chair once held by late lead vocalist, June Tyson, who passed away before Sun Ra did.
The band currently has approx. 12 pieces that include French horn alto sax, baritone sax, 2 tenor sax,. trumpet, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, flute,, and vocals. The only instrument absent is the piano, which under Sun Ra was the lead instrument in the band. However, due to the “free-jazz” concept, the piano is not necessarily missed with so many horns taking up the slack.
The band numbers in this show, included Sun Ra originals, Sun Is In The Heaven, Angels and Demons co-written by Sun Ra and Marshall Allen, I’ll Wait For You, Space Is The Place, and standard song, Stranger In Paradise, done as a Latin mambo, sung by vocalist, Tara Middleton who has a nice voice, but faltered a little on the bridge of the tune.
Jazz poetry was everywhere throughout the show chanted by Tara, Marshall, and others. New melodic versions of I’ll Wait For You and Space Is the Place were redone. However, some passages were inaudible due to poor miking of some vocals. However, even with a few glitches, Sun Ra Ar kestra is never to be missed for its creativity, costumes, poetry, arrangements, and excitement which the Arkestra always delivers. I will always keep “space traveling”
