The Sun Ra Arkestra

Profile:
U.S. free-jazz ensemble that emerged during the mid-'50s. Initially centered around Sun Ra for almost 40 years, the Arkestra went through various incarnations and is still active currently under the leadership of Marshall Allen.

Note: Please use The Sun Ra Arkestra as PAN for only the releases that are a variation of Arkestra.
These few exceptions are not ANVs of the Arkestra and are PANs in their own right: The Sun Ra All Stars, Sun Ra Sextet, Sun Ra Quartet, Sun Ra Trio.

Note: Many Sun Ra Arkestra albums were published as Sun Ra albums, despite being full Arkestra recordings. See Sun Ra for more releases in the Sun Ra Arkestra discography.

Current lineup:
Marshall Allen - alto saxophone, flute, EVI - joined in 1958
Michael Ray - trumpet, vocals - joined in 1978
Fred Adams - trumpet - joined in 1982
Knoel Scott - alto saxophone - joined in 1979
Vincent Chancey - french horn - joined in 1976
Cecil Brooks - trumpet
Danny Ray Thompson - flute, baritone sax, alto sax, bassoon - joined in 1967
Abshalom Ben Shlomo - alto sax, clarinet - joined in 1970
Rey Scott - baritone saxophone - joined in 1988
Dave Davis - trombone - joined in 1997
Elson Nascimento - percussion - joined in 1988
Craig Holiday Haynes - drums - joined in 1980
D. Hotep - guitar - joined in 2000
Yahya Abdul-Majid - tenor saxophone - joined in 1980
Kash Killion - cello - joined in 1989
Bill Davis - bass - joined in 1962
Tyler Mitchell - bass - joined in 1985
Juini Booth - bass - joined in 1967
Farid Abdul-Bari Barron - piano
James Stewart - tenor - joined in 2011
Craig Harris - trombone
Wayne Anthony Smith Jr. - drums
Tara Middleton - voice, percussion, violin
Atakatune (Stanley Morgan) - conga, timbal - joined in 1972
George Burton - piano - joined in 2015
Sites:
Aliases:
Members:
Abshalom Ben Shlomo, Ahmed Abdullah, Akh Tal Ebah, Al Evans, Alan Silva, Alex Blake (2), Ali Hassan, Alvin Fielder, Alzo Wright, Art Jenkins, Arthur Hoyle, Atakatune, Augustus Browning, Avreeayl Ra, Ben Henderson (2), Bernard Pettaway, Bill Davis (5), Bill Fielder, Bo Bailey, Bob Cunningham, Bruce Edwards (2), C. Scoby Stroman, Calvin Newborn, Carl LeBlanc, Cecil Brooks, Charles Davis (2), Charles Stephens, Cheryl Banks, Chris Capers, Chris Henderson (5), Clifford Barbaro, Clifford Jarvis, Clifford Thornton, Craig Harris (3), Craig Haynes, Curt Pulliam, Dale Williams (2), Damon Choice, Danny Davis, Danny Ray Thompson, Dave Davis (8), Dave Hotep, David Young (2), Disco Kid, Don Mumford, Earl "Buster" Smith, Eddie Gale, Eddie Thomas (2), Eloe Omoe, Elson Nascimento, Emmett McDonald, Eric Walker, Eugene Brennan, Everett Turner, Farid Barron, Fred Adams, Gene Easton, George Burton (2), George Hudson, Gloristeena Knight, Hakim Rahim, Harry Richards, Harry Wilson, Hayes Burnett, Hobart Dotson, India Cooke, James Jacson, James Scales, James Stewart (6), Jim Herndon, Jimmy Johnson (2), John Avant, John Gilmore, John Goldsmith, John Ore, John Stewart (7), Jon Hardy (5), Jothan Callins, Judith Holton, Juini Booth, Julian Priester, June Tyson, Kash Killion, Kenny Williams (3), Kiane Zawadi, Lamont McClamb, Larry Bright, Larry Northington, Laurdine Patrick, Leroy Taylor (2), Lex Humphries, Lucious Randolph, Luqman Ali, Marshall Allen, Marvin "Bugalu" Smith, Math Samba, Matthew Brown (4), Michael Anderson (2), Michael Ray, Mobarak Mahmoud, Nate Pryor, Nimrod Hunt, Noel Scott, On Ka'a Davis, Pat Patrick, Phil Cohran, Randall Murray, Reg McDonald, Reggie Fields, Reynold Scott, Richard Evans (2), Richard Williams (4), Robert Barry (2), Robert Cummings, Robert Underwood, Roger Aralamon Hazoumé, Roger Blank, Rollo Radford, Ronnie Boykins, Ronnie Brown (2), Russell Branch, Ruth Wright, Skeeter McFarland, Steve Clarke, Sun Ra, Tani Tabbal, Tara Middleton, Taylor Richardson (2), Teddy Nance, Tommy Hunter, Tony Bethel, Tyler Mitchell, Tyrone Hill, Verta Grosvenor, Victor Sproles, Vincent Chancey, Walter Miller, Walter Strickland, Wayne Anthony Smith, Jr., Wayne Harris, Wilburn Green, William Brister, William Cochran (2), Yahya Abdul-Majid
Variations:
Viewing All | The Sun Ra Arkestra
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Artist

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Albums

0216 Super-Sonic Jazz — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Arkestra* Super-Sonic Jazz (Album) El Saturn Records 0216 US 1957 Sell This Version
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K7OP-3590, K7OP-3591 Jazz In Silhouette — The Sun Ra Arkestra Le Sun Ra And His Arkestra* Jazz In Silhouette (Album) El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records K7OP-3590, K7OP-3591 US 1959 Sell This Version
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2066, LP 2066 When Sun Comes Out — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Myth Science Arkestra* When Sun Comes Out (Album) El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records 2066, LP 2066 US 1963 Sell This Version
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9954, FG-9954-E, GH-9954-F Secrets Of The Sun — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra* Secrets Of The Sun (Album) El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records 9954, FG-9954-E, GH-9954-F US 1965 Sell This Version
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LP No. 9956 Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Solar Arkestra* Art Forms Of Dimensions Tomorrow (Album) El Saturn Records LP No. 9956 US 1965 Sell This Version
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LPSR99562B Fate In A Pleasant Mood — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra* Fate In A Pleasant Mood (Album) Saturn Research LPSR99562B US 1965 Sell This Version
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LP 1966 When Angels Speak Of Love — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Myth Science Arkestra* When Angels Speak Of Love (Album) El Saturn Records LP 1966 US 1966 Sell This Version
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LP No. 9956-11 Visits Planet Earth — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Solar Arkestra* Featuring John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, Charles Davis (2) Sun Ra And His Solar Arkestra* Featuring John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, Charles Davis (2) - Visits Planet Earth (Album) Saturn Records (22) LP No. 9956-11 US 1966 Sell This Version
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KH-98766 Other Planes Of There — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Solar Arkestra* Other Planes Of There (Album) El Saturn Records KH-98766 US 1966 Sell This Version
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LPB - 711 The Magic City — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra* The Magic City (Album) Saturn Research LPB - 711 US 1966 Sell This Version
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LP 409 We Travel The Space Ways — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra* We Travel The Space Ways (Album) El Saturn Records LP 409 US 1967 Sell This Version
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KH-5472, 502 Strange Strings — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun-Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra* Strange Strings (Album) Saturn Research, Saturn Research KH-5472, 502 US 1967 Sell This Version
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LP-203, SR 9956-2-M/N Interstellar Low Ways — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Myth Science Arkestra* Interstellar Low Ways (Album) El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records LP-203, SR 9956-2-M/N US 1967 Sell This Version
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SR-408 Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Myth Science Arkestra* Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy (Album) Saturn Research SR-408 US 1967 Sell This Version
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407 Angels And Demons At Play — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Myth Science Arkestra* Angels And Demons At Play (Album) El Saturn Records 407 US 1967 Sell This Version
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DS-414 Sound Of Joy — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And The Arkestra* Sound Of Joy (Album) Delmark Records DS-414 US 1968 Sell This Version
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ESR507 Atlantis — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra* Atlantis (Album) Saturn Research ESR507 US 1969 Sell This Version
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406, LP #406 The Nubians Of Plutonia — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Myth-Science Arkestra* The Nubians Of Plutonia (Album) El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records 406, LP #406 US 1969 Sell This Version
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#512, SR-512, 512 Sound Sun Pleasure!! — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra* Sound Sun Pleasure!! (Album) El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records #512, SR-512, 512 US 1970 Sell This Version
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IR522 The Night Of The Purple Moon — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra* The Night Of The Purple Moon (Album) Saturn Research IR522 US 1970 Sell This Version
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ESR-508, SR-508 Holiday For Soul Dance — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun-Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra* Holiday For Soul Dance (Album) Saturn Research, Saturn Research ESR-508, SR-508 US 1970 Sell This Version
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ESR521 My Brother The Wind — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra* My Brother The Wind (Album) Saturn Research ESR521 US 1970 Sell This Version
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ESR 520 Continuation — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Astro-Infinity Arkestra* Continuation (Album) El Saturn Records ESR 520 US 1970 Sell This Version
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GY 30002, GY 30.002 Sun Song — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Myth Science Arkestra* Sun Song (Album) Goody, Goody GY 30002, GY 30.002 France 1971 Sell This Version
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CRM 748 It's After The End Of The World - Live At The Donaueschingen And Berlin Festivals — The Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra* It's After The End Of The World - Live At The Donaueschingen And Berlin Festivals (Album) MPS Records, BASF CRM 748 Germany 1971 Sell This Version

Add Review

lambcannon

lambcannon

June 8, 2021
during club shows, the reed section was usually in two rows with John Gilmore, Danny Thompson and Marshall Allen in the front. Each reed player had an old-school music rack in front of him... with a loose leaf 'book' (fake book of changes? detailed notes for solo order?) at least a hundred loose pages kept together with a circular ring like grade school... the band would literally hear Sonny play a couple of notes signalling a change to say, "Stardust"... one of the hardest tunes there is, they then all scrambled thru the book to find it with one hand while starting to play ensemble with the other... Marshall would solemnly, reverentially follow the book thru teensy glasses, note for note, even flicking the pages over midst 128th note solos... Danny was definitely using his book wide open-eyed as a guide to the great beyond... but John would lean back with his eyes closed most of the time as he wailed/soloed, hardly looking at the pages at all, a face of ecstatic abandonment... what little of the books' contents i could see just looked like beautiful sketches over blank sheet music.... good times, early to mid 1970s
Vanzetti

Vanzetti

October 21, 2020
A Joyful Noise (1980 docu by Robert Mugge) https://youtu.be/6ioFrtlNXZk
moratlaurent

moratlaurent

June 2, 2011
the first picture isn't Sun Ra but trumpet player band Eddie Gale, this is the sleeve picture of his Blue Note Album

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