sun ra

Sun Ra Arkestra Triumph with ‘Lights on a Satellite’

Sun Ra Arkestra Triumph with ‘Lights on a Satellite’

Sun Ra Arkestra’s sonic vision transcends time for these keepers of the cosmic flame, and that vitality comes through on Lights on a Satellite.

Sun Ra’s Astonishing 1970s Gig Finds Him in Full Flight

Sun Ra’s Astonishing 1970s Gig Finds Him in Full Flight

The relentless determination in the face of indifference and poverty makes celebratory gigs like this one from Sun Ra hard-won and vital now. 

JazzMatters: The Best New Jazz of January 2023

JazzMatters: The Best New Jazz of January 2023

Will Layman rounds up the best new jazz albums and cocoons with jazz documentaries, Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues and Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes.

‘The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra’ Gets Its Most Crucial Reissue

‘The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra’ Gets Its Most Crucial Reissue

The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra hearkens back to Sun Ra’s big band roots and his determination to create a genuine exploration of otherworldly space.

Cosmic Dust and Interstellar Grooves: An Interview with Nona Hendryx

Cosmic Dust and Interstellar Grooves: An Interview with Nona Hendryx

As guest Artistic Director for 'The Cosmic Synthesis of Sun Ra and Afrofuturism' at Harlem Stage, funk rock icon Nona Hendryx brings audiences to other dimensions.

The 25 Best Space Disco Songs of 1976-1986

The 25 Best Space Disco Songs of 1976-1986

With Star Trek: Picard and Space Force in the news, it's time to revisit the best space disco of the original era. These 25 songs feature outer space on the dance floor, from the avant-garde to Star Wars commercialism and beyond.

David Bowie and Other ‘Strange Stars’

David Bowie and Other ‘Strange Stars’

Jason Heller's Strange Stars, on David Bowie and sci-fi, is an exciting and loving look at a time when infinite wonder had a role in the pop music marketplace.

Sun Ra: Astro Black, Cosmic Dark

Sun Ra: Astro Black, Cosmic Dark

Youngquist brings considerable skills to the life and work of the legendary but underappreciated and often misunderstood composer, keyboardist, and poet Sun Ra.
Golden Dawn Arkestra: Stargazer

Golden Dawn Arkestra: Stargazer

There's a Ra connection here in more than name. And there's a legend surrounding one of the key players and his relationship to the Great One. True or untrue, that story only adds to the mystery behind this good-time release.
‘Sun Ra: a Joyful Noise’ and the Joy of Ra’s Mythocracy

‘Sun Ra: a Joyful Noise’ and the Joy of Ra’s Mythocracy

This film serves as an excellent way to try to begin to comprehend the enigma that was Sun Ra.
Sun Ra: Duke Ellington’s Sound of Space

Sun Ra: Duke Ellington’s Sound of Space

Dear patrons in attendance at The Bottom Line on the night of February 17, 1987: shut up, won't you?
The Best Album Re-Issues of 2014

The Best Album Re-Issues of 2014

The music world saw reissues from all over the genre map, spanning classic rock titans to electronic music legends.