(Free Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz) [WEB] Marshall Allen Presents Sun Ra And His Arkestra - In The Orbit Of Ra (2CD) - 2014, FLAC (tracks), lossless

1. Somewhere In Space 03:02
2. The Lady With The Golden Stockings (a.k.a. The Golden Lady) 07:43
3. Somebody Else's World 04:03
4. Spontaneous Simplicity 07:59
5. Plutonian Nights 04:24
6. Angels And Demons At Play 02:55
7. Island In The Sun (Extended Version) 10:22
8. Rocket Number Nine Take Off For The Planet Venus 06:22
9. Solar Differentials 06:24

1. Astro Black 10:55
2. Have You Heard The Latest News From Neptune 05:53
3. Dance Of The Cosmo-Aliens (Live In Milan, 1978) 11:07
4. Trying To Put The Blame On Me (Live In Rome, 1977) 03:45
5. Planet Earth 04:58
6. The Nile 04:56
7. Reflects Motion (Part One) 03:23
8. Reflects Motion (Part Two) 08:11
9. Ancient Aiethiopia 09:17
10. Interplanetary Music 02:42
11. We Travel The Spaceways 03:21

Arkestra bandleader Marshall Allen cuts through the sea of Sun Ra reissues to bring you a brilliantly curated introduction to the cosmic jazz master, celebrating what would have been his 100th earth year. A sumptuous collection of classics, rarities and unreleased tracks and versions.
1-1 and 1-8: Originally released on the El Saturn Records LP Interstellar Low Ways (LP-203). Recorded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 14 1960. ? 1965 El Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
1-2 and 1-5: Originally released on the El Saturn Records LP The Nubians Of Plutonia (406). Recorded in Chicago, 1958-1959. ? 1960 El Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
1-3: Originally released on the Saturn Research LP My Brother The Wind II a.k.a. 'Somebody Else's Idea' (ESR 523). Recorded in New York, 1969. ? 1971 Saturn Research. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
1-4: Originally released on the Black Lion Records LP Pictures Of Infinity (BL-106). Recorded in New York, 1968. ? 1968 Black Lion Records. Licensed courtesy of DA Music / Deutsche Austrophon GmbH & Co. KG
1-6: Originally released on the Saturn Records LP Angels And Demons At Play (SR 9956-2-O/P). Recorded at Hall Recording Company, Chicago, late 1960. ? 1965 Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
1-7: Edited version originally released on the El Saturn Records LP The Invisible Shield (LP 529). Recorded at Variety Recording Studio, New York, between 1968 and 1970. ? 1974 El Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
1-9 and 2-8: Originally released on the Saturn Research LP Secrets Of The Sun (GH 9954 E/F). Recorded at the Choreographers' Workshop, New York 1962. ? 1965 Saturn Research. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
2-1: Originally released on the Impulse LP Astro Black (AS-9255). Recorded in early 1972. ? 1973 Impulse. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC.
2-2: Originally released on the Saturn LP Discipline 27-11 (538). Recorded at Streeterville Studios, Chicago, 19th October 1972. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC.
2-3: Originally released on the Saturn Gemini LP Disco 3000 (CMIJ 78). Recorded in the Teatro Ciak, Milan, 23rd January 1978. ? 1978 El Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Art Yard Ltd
2-4: Previously unreleased. Recorded live in Rome, 1977. ? 2014 Art Yard Ltd. Licensed courtesy of Art Yard Ltd
2-5: Originally released on the El Saturn Records LP Sun Ra Visits Planet Earth (LP 207). Recorded in Chicago, 1957 or 1958. ? 1965 El Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
2-6: Originally released on the Saturn Research LP When Sun Comes Out (LP2066). Recorded at the Choreographers' Workshop, New York, Noveber 1962. ? 1963 Saturn Research. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
2-7: Previously unreleased. Recorded at the Choreographers' Workshop, New York 1962. ? 2014 Sun Ra LLC. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
2-9: Originally released on the El Saturn Records LP Angels And Demons At Play (LP 5786). Recorded in 1958 at El Saturn Studio, Chicago. ? 1959 El Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
2-10: Originally released on the Saturn Records LP We Travel The Spaceways (HK5445). Recorded in rehearsal, 1960. ? 1967 Saturn Records. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
2-11: Originally released on the Saturn Research LP We Travel The Spaceways (Saturn HK5445). Recorded in rehearsal, 1960. ? 1967 Saturn Research. Licensed courtesy of Sun Ra LLC
1-7: Previously unreleased version
2-4, 2-7: Previously unreleased tracks
As the longest-tenured member of the Arkestra (55-plus years and counting as of 2014), there is no one with a deeper understanding of the music of Sun Ra than Marshall Allen, and that's part of what makes In the Orbit of Ra such a special collection. The Arkestra's long history is often divided into musical/geographic periods or spoken of as a progression from inside to outside playing. This set spans from the late '50s to the late '70s but the non-chronological sequencing shows how artificial those stylistic boundaries are. The tracks chosen show how many of the elements of their more outside material were present even back in the late '50s and there was quite clearly a strong, coherent musical vision in place from the beginning (but most audiences probably weren't ready for it yet). There are a few signature tunes here, but this isn't really a greatest-hits collection. Instead, it's a guided tour from Marshall Allen deep into Sun Ra's music. Each track leads the listener a bit further so by the time Art Jenkins' space voice enters at the end of disc one, it makes perfect sense instead of just being "weird" in a different context. "Solar Differentials" is the perfect setup for the second disc (starting with the hypnotic "Astro Black," replete with industrial drill sounds), which continues the journey with more of a focus on vocal pieces over the years, ultimately leading us back full circle to the beginning in Chicago. In addition to the unreleased tracks "Reflects Motion, Pt. 1" and "Trying to Put the Blame on Me" (a wonderful solo piano piece), there's an unedited "Islands in the Sun" and a bunch of great photos by Val Wilmer. Then there's the remastering: this is easily the best sound most of these tracks have ever had before, on CD or LP. There are any number of great performances here, but Ronnie Boykins' work on bass really stands out with the new remastering. Despite the fact that most of this material was already available, In the Orbit of Ra is close to essential for fans and a pretty good place to start for the curious Sun Ra novice. He really was writing music for the 21st century. - Sean Westergaard, AMG