Sun Ra & His Arkestra: Jazz In Silhouette (2LP, expanded edition) [COSMIC MYTH RECORDS]

Why you'll love it

This expanded 2LP set adds a second disc of singles, alternates and previously unissued takes to the original album. The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave Jazz In Silhouette its crown accolade and placed it in its Core Collection.

This edition

• 2LP set
• Expanded edition
• Stereo and mono mixes
• Bonus singles and outtakes

About the album

Before the spaceships, the robes and the claims of Saturnian citizenship took over, Sun Ra was leading one of the tightest big bands in Chicago. Jazz In Silhouette, cut at El Saturn Studio on March 6, 1959 (for years everyone thought 1958, until a tape box turned up), catches the Arkestra at that sweet spot between swinging hard bop and the cosmic stuff to come.

The band is stacked: John Gilmore on tenor, Marshall Allen and James Spaulding on alto and flute, Pat Patrick and Charles Davis on baritone, Hobart Dotson on trumpet, Ronnie Boykins on bass and William Cochran on drums, with Ra on piano, celeste and gong. "Enlightment" became an Arkestra concert staple, "Ancient Aiethopia" stretches out over nine minutes of exotica, and "Blues At Midnight" swings for eleven. Reissue producers Irwin Chusid and Michael Anderson fill the second disc with "'Round Midnight," "Great Balls Of Fire" and rare studio takes.

The Penguin Guide predicted it would one day be recognised as one of the most important jazz records since the war. Marshall Allen still leads the Arkestra today, which makes this the longest-running residency in jazz.

Also at Kops: more Sun Ra on vinyl · browse Modern Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Cosmic Myth Records (cat# CMR-007), a reissue of the 1959 album.