One of jazz music’s most entertaining and eccentric figures is profiled in Robert Mugge’s hourlong, 1980 profile of the late bandleader-keyboardist-composer Sun Ra. “I don’t consider myself one of the humans,” he once said. “I’m a spiritual being,” who was reputed to eschew the usual jazzman’s indulgences of drugs and sex and who, despite the weird trappings (he and his big band, the Intergalactic Omniverse Arkestra, usually performed in glittery costumes that combined African, alien, and thrift-shop styles), infused his music with a strong sense of discipline and precision. Here we see Ra and the band rehearsing and performing; their “joyful noise” is free, sometimes chaotic, but also clearly blues-based, somewhat reminiscent of Monk or Mingus (there’s even a rendition of “‘Round Midnight”). Ra is also interviewed surrounded by the Egyptian artifacts and antiquities that were an important element of his “mythocracy.” He clearly loves having an audience–and how can you not enjoy listening to a guy who also chooses the White House as a backdrop for solemn pronouncements like “I’m not a part of history–I’m more a part of mystery, which is my story”? –Sam Graham
Joyful Noise [VHS]
Pinned on August 4, 2013 at 2:51 am by Matthew Weaver
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Fascinating document of a fascinating man This video gets four stars not for its execution (frankly, in spots it makes Blair Witch Project look like Citizen Kane) but for its subject, the mysterious Sun Ra and his Arkestra. The movie basically consists of Sun Ra talking about his philosophies, interspersed with interviews with members of the Arkestra and film of the Arkestra rehearsing and performing. However, the sound quality of this film leaves a lot to be desired; I haven’t seen the newer version of this video/DVD and I hope they remaster the sound, because there are some dynamic moments here with the Arkestra.
classic sun ra if you are a sun ra fan then this is a must. if you want an introduction to sun ra you couldnt ask for much better. great live performances and classic quotes from the master of the one liner. ” with all the school and hospitals you got, your supposed to have a better world than this” and” you cant have a whitehouse if you dont have a blackhouse, in fact you cant have anything without its opposite” and the timeless ” space is the place.” some of the music on this dvd is simply awesome. horns echoing ancient egypt, synthesizers making modern musicians look pathetic, an ancient infinity drum and a moog synthesizer. sun ra, tho he would deny he is of our species, is the man.