Sun Ra In Some Far Place: Roma ’77 (RSD 2016 release)

Description

1977 was a transitional time for jazz enigma and self-proclaimed member of an angel race, Sun Ra. During the Summer of 1976, he had stormed Montreux and toured West Africa with one of the greatest of his full-sized Arkestras before embarking on occasional solo concerts for the first time, emphasising his prowess at the piano. Although he had always played the blues within Arkestra sets, he now summoned up the rolling tradition of blues piano, recalling Otis Spann, Avery Parrish, stride and ricky-tick styles.

He made two solo albums for Paul Bleys Improvising Artists label (Solo Piano and St. Louis Blues) before travelling to Rome. For the concert, featured here, Ra brought in drummer Luqman Ali, who had been part of the Arkestra during the bands early Chicago years, and vocalist Thomas Thaddeus aka Eddie Thomas. Thomas was a percussionist, dancer and incense dude with the Arkestra throughout the late 70s period. He would appear again on Ras Lanquidity album for Philly Jazz in 79.

During this intimate concert, Ra takes us through piano and synthesizer renditions of Arkestra staples like Love In Outer Space, Space Is The Place and Calling Planet Earth but also explores a selection of jazz standards. Among them, we hear the first ever released Ra version of the 1930s staple I Cover The Waterfront alongside a dissonant version of Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child and St. Louis Blues. Ras ties to Italy would continue the following year as he recorded three acclaimed albums for Horo Records, run by filmmaker turned label owner, Aldo Sinesio.

Following 2014s Marshall Allen compilation, In the Orbit Of Ra and 2015s Gilles Peterson-curated To Those Of Earth… And Other Worlds, Strut and Art Yard join forces once more for the first release anywhere of In Some Far Place: Roma 77. Recorded direct from the sound board and mastered from first generation reel to reel tapes, this is one of the very few trio albums by Sun Ra ever to be released and is exclusively available for Record Store Day 2015. The release features rare photos from recently deceased photographer H.L. Lindenmaier with sleeve notes by the Sun Ra Arkestras Knoel Scott.

– First issue of anywhere of this 1977 recording from Rome.

– Continuation of Strut and Art Yards Sun Ra release programme following successful compilations by Marshall Allen (2014) and Gilles Peterson (2015)

– Official reissue mastered from first generation reel to reel tapes

– LP features photos by H.L. Lindenmaier, sleeve notes by the Arkestras Knoel Scott and new cover design featuring work by Lewis Heriz

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