Sun Ra Arkestra
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The Sun Ra Arkestra is an American
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
group formed in the mid-1950s and led by keyboardist/composer
Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...
until his death in 1993. The group is considered a pioneer of
afrofuturism Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science, and history that explores the intersection of the African diaspora culture with science and technology. It addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through technoculture ...
. Since 1995 the Arkestra has been led by saxophonist
Marshall Allen Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and the EWI. Allen is best known for his work with Sun Ra, having recorded and performed ...
, an Arkestra member since 1958, who is supported by more than a dozen other musicians.


History

The band is headquartered in a
rowhouse A terrace, terraced house ( UK), or townhouse ( US) is a type of medium-density housing which first started in 16th century Europe with a row of joined houses sharing side walls. In the United States and Canada these are sometimes known as row ...
in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Saxophonist and current leader
Marshall Allen Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and the EWI. Allen is best known for his work with Sun Ra, having recorded and performed ...
has lived and worked in the house since 1968. In 1976,
Vincent Chancey Vincent Chancey (born February 4, 1950) is an American jazz hornist. Early life and education Chancey was born and raised in Chicago. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the SIUC School of Music in 1973 and studied under Julius W ...
, an American jazz hornist joined the group. In 1993, John Gilmore became the leader of the Arkestra after
Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...
died. In 1995, Allen became the leader of the Arkestra after Gilmore's death. In 1999, the Arkestra released the studio album, ''A Song for the Sun.'' In 2009, Philadelphia's Institute of Contemporary Art hosted an exhibition of the group's history and artistry. In 2012 Tara Middleton, a violinist and vocalist joined the group. In 2017, the Arkestra opened for
Solange Solange may refer to: People with the given name * Solange Knowles (born 1986), American R&B/soul singer * Solange of Bourges (d. 880), Christian saint * Solange (psychic) (1952–2021), Italian TV personality, psychic and commentator * Solange A ...
on her tour supporting her 2016 album, '' A Seat at the Table''. In 2019, the Arkestra had a major performance at the Hollywood Theater in
Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
. In October 2020, the Sun Ra Arkestra released ''Swirling'', the first album the band released in 20 years. The band recorded the album at Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Soundworks and was released on
Strut Records Strut Records is a British record label that started in 1999. The label focuses on releasing dance music, jazz and afrobeat including artists Patrice Rushen, Sun Ra Arkestra and Mulatu Astatke. History The label was "acquired and re-launched ...
. The album features the first-ever recording of Sun Ra's song "Darkness."


Music style and influences

The Arkestra draws from a range of musical genres: swing,
rock 'n' roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
,
Chicago blues Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago, Illinois. It is based on earlier blues idioms, such as Delta blues, but is performed in an urban style. It developed alongside the Great Migration of African Americans of the fi ...
,
improvisation Improvisation, often shortened to improv, is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. The origin of the word itself is in the Latin "improvisus", which literally means un-foreseen. Improvis ...
and
electronic Electronic may refer to: *Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductors * ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal *Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device *Electronic c ...
. When the Arkestra performs, the band members wear flashy capes and sequined headdresses.


Members

; Current line-up *
Marshall Allen Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and the EWI. Allen is best known for his work with Sun Ra, having recorded and performed ...
- alto saxophone, flute, EVI (joined 1958) *
Vincent Chancey Vincent Chancey (born February 4, 1950) is an American jazz hornist. Early life and education Chancey was born and raised in Chicago. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the SIUC School of Music in 1973 and studied under Julius W ...
- french horn (joined 1976) * Michael Ray - trumpet, vocals (joined 1978) * Knoel Scott - baritone & alto saxophone (joined 1979) * Fred Adams - trumpet (joined 1982) * Tyler Mitchell - bass (joined 1985) * Elson Nascimento - surdo, percussion (joined 1988) * Jorge Silva - repinique, percussion (joined 1989) * Kash Killion - cello (joined 1989) * Dave Davis - trombone (joined 1997) * D. Hotep - guitar, electronics (joined 2000) * James Stewart - tenor sax, flute (joined 2011) * Farid Abdul-bari Barron - piano * Cecil Brooks - trumpet * George Gray - drums * Chris Hemingway - alto & soprano saxophone * Tara Middleton - voice, percussion, violin (joined 2012) * Anthony Nelson - baritone saxophone * Robert Stringer - trombone


Discography

Studio Albums * ''A Song of the Sun'' (1999) * ''Swirling'' (2020) * ''Living Sky'' (2022) * ''Lights On a Satellite'' (2024) See also
Sun Ra discography The Sun Ra discography is one of the largest discographies in music history. Jazz keyboardist, bandleader and composer Sun Ra recorded dozens of singles and over one hundred full-length albums, comprising well over 1,000 songs, and making him on ...
Live Albums * ''Babylon Live'' (In + Out Records/2015)


References


External links


The Sun Ra Arkestra
official site, under the direction of
Marshall Allen Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and the EWI. Allen is best known for his work with Sun Ra, having recorded and performed ...

Sun Ra Arkestra concert
at Acht Brücken Festival, in Cologne, Germany on 2022-06-07 :40:57 {{DEFAULTSORT:Sun Ra Arkestra Afrofuturism African-American musical groups Musical groups from Philadelphia Germantown, Philadelphia