Tracklist Hide Credits
| A1 |
Enlightenment
Written-By – Dotson*, Sun Ra |
5:02 | ||
| A2 |
Saturn
Written-By – Sun Ra |
3:37 | ||
| A3 |
Velvet
Written-By – Sun Ra |
3:18 | ||
| A4 |
Ancient Aiethopia
Written-By – Sun Ra |
9:04 | ||
| B1 |
Hours After
Written-By – Turner*, Sun Ra |
3:41 | ||
| B2 |
Horoscope
Written-By – Sun Ra |
3:43 | ||
| B3 |
Images
Written-By – Sun Ra |
3:48 | ||
| B4 |
Blues At Midnight
Written-By – Sun Ra |
11:56 |
Credits
- Alto Saxophone, Flute – James Spaulding, Marshall Allen
- Art Direction – Judith Salavetz, Spencer Drate
- Artwork By [Disc Graphics] – Marcolina Design
- Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis (2)
- Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Pat Patrick
- Bass – Ronnie Boykins
- Drums – William Cochran (2)
- Engineer [Premastering] – Dave Shirk
- Liner Notes – Francis Davis
- Piano – Le Sun Ra*
- Producer – Alton Abraham, Ihnfinity, Inc.*
- Reissue Producer – Jerry Gordon
- Tenor Saxophone – John Gilmore
- Trombone – Julian Priester
- Trumpet – Hobart Dotson
- Words By [Poems] – Sun Ra
Notes
Released on Ra’s own Saturn label in 1958 and originally only available at gigs, until its re-release on Impulse in 1975. For its unique ability to look both forward and backward at the same time, “Silhouette” is one Sun Ra’s finest of the period. Ra is able to revisit swing and be-bop while somehow still managing to stay at the forefront of jazz…perhaps Sun Ra’s music really did come from his own experiences in outer space as he often claimed. Outstanding performances by tenor saxophonist John Gilmore, often called “Sun Ra’s Johnny Hodges”, particularly on “Blues At Midnight”. John Gilmore was one of the longest standing members of the Arkestra. Special mention is also due to trumpeter Herbert Dotson who can be heard on this early version of “Enlightenment”, one of Ra’s greatest pieces, co-writtten with Dotson. Its theme was often chanted by Sun Ra & members of the Arkestra as they ran down through the theatre at the end of their sets. Also featuring standout track “Ancient Aiethopia”, which alone makes this album an important entry in Sun Ra’s voluminous discography.
Other Versions (Showing 2 of 2) View All
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz In Silhouette (CD, Album, RE) | Evidence (5) | ECD 22012-2 | US | 1991 | ||
| Jazz In Silhouette (LP) | ABC Records | SD 9265 | US | 1975 |
[r2503962]