Sun Ra
Sun Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, legal name Le Sony'r Ra, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993) was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his cosmic philosophy, musical compositions and performances.
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LISTEN THE BEST SUN RA SONGS IN STREAMING
2022-11-01
The Incredible Musical Journey of Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a genius musician, composer, and bandleader who spearheaded some of the most innovative jazz and experimental compositions of the 20th century. Born Herman Poole Blount in Birmingham, Alabama in 1914, Sun Ra started off playing piano at local eateries and dance halls until he moved to Chicago in the late 1940s. His music, heavily influenced by his cosmic philosophy, set him apart from other jazz musicians of his time and paved the way for future experimental jazz and avant-garde musicians.
Sun Ra's early career began in the Midwest, where he played with several blues and swing bands. In 1946, he moved to Chicago and started playing with Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, which at the time was considered one of the best big bands in America. It was here that he honed his craft and formed his own band, the Sun Ra Arkestra, which would become his musical vehicle for the rest of his life. During his time in Chicago, Sun Ra's music became more expansive, incorporating elements of African and Egyptian music along with nods to classical music and science fiction.
Throughout the 1950s, Sun Ra's music continued to evolve, as he experimented with free jazz and avant-garde compositions. It wasn't until the 1960s, however, that he would achieve widespread success with his album The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, which is widely considered his masterpiece. This album marked a pivotal point in Sun Ra's career, as he began to incorporate more electronic instruments and experimental techniques.
In addition to The Heliocentric Worlds, Sun Ra released numerous albums that are considered seminal works in the jazz canon. Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy and Atlantis both feature some of his most experimental compositions, while The Magic City and When Sun Comes Out showcase his more accessible side. Other notable albums include Jazz in Silhouette and Space Is the Place.
Sun Ra was also known for his unique performances and stage presence. He dressed the members of his Arkestra in elaborate, space-themed costumes and often performed with various props and theatrics. His live shows were known for their energy and unpredictability, making them unlike any other jazz performances of the time.
Sun Ra's influence can still be heard in the music of modern jazz and experimental musicians today. His willingness to push boundaries and experiment with new sounds and techniques set him apart from his contemporaries and carved a path for future musical experimentation. Whether you're a fan of jazz or experimental music, Sun Ra's incredible musical journey is one that can't be missed.
Sun Ra's early career began in the Midwest, where he played with several blues and swing bands. In 1946, he moved to Chicago and started playing with Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, which at the time was considered one of the best big bands in America. It was here that he honed his craft and formed his own band, the Sun Ra Arkestra, which would become his musical vehicle for the rest of his life. During his time in Chicago, Sun Ra's music became more expansive, incorporating elements of African and Egyptian music along with nods to classical music and science fiction.
Throughout the 1950s, Sun Ra's music continued to evolve, as he experimented with free jazz and avant-garde compositions. It wasn't until the 1960s, however, that he would achieve widespread success with his album The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, which is widely considered his masterpiece. This album marked a pivotal point in Sun Ra's career, as he began to incorporate more electronic instruments and experimental techniques.
In addition to The Heliocentric Worlds, Sun Ra released numerous albums that are considered seminal works in the jazz canon. Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy and Atlantis both feature some of his most experimental compositions, while The Magic City and When Sun Comes Out showcase his more accessible side. Other notable albums include Jazz in Silhouette and Space Is the Place.
Sun Ra was also known for his unique performances and stage presence. He dressed the members of his Arkestra in elaborate, space-themed costumes and often performed with various props and theatrics. His live shows were known for their energy and unpredictability, making them unlike any other jazz performances of the time.
Sun Ra's influence can still be heard in the music of modern jazz and experimental musicians today. His willingness to push boundaries and experiment with new sounds and techniques set him apart from his contemporaries and carved a path for future musical experimentation. Whether you're a fan of jazz or experimental music, Sun Ra's incredible musical journey is one that can't be missed.
Tag: Sun Ra, musical biography, best songs, playlist
SONGS OF SUN RA - THE BEST SONGS OF THE ARTIST
1 - Door Of The Cosmos
2 - Enlightenment
3 - Saturn
4 - Images
5 - Space Is The Place
6 - Nuclear War
7 - Velvet
8 - Lullaby for Realville
9 - Discipline
10 - Rocket Number Nine
11 - Mu
12 - Bassism
13 - Hours After
14 - Blues at Midnight
15 - Ancient Aiethopia
16 - Medicine for a Nightmare
17 - We Travel the Spaceways
18 - Horoscope
19 - Door To The Cosmos
20 - Tapestry From An Asteroid
21 - Lanquidity
22 - That's How I Feel
23 - Where Pathways Meet
24 - Love In Outer Space
25 - Springtime Again
26 - Plutonian Nights
27 - Angels And Demons At Play
28 - Twin Stars Of Thence
29 - Heliocentric
30 - When There Is No Sun
31 - There Are Other Worlds (they Have Not Told You Of)
32 - Of Sounds And Something Else
33 - Outer Nothingness
34 - Other Worlds
35 - China Gates
36 - Where Is Tomorrow?
37 - Sea Of Sounds
38 - Lemuria
39 - El Is A Sound Of Joy
40 - 'round Midnight
41 - The Beginning
42 - Bimini
43 - Space Jazz Reverie
44 - India
45 - New Day
46 - Watusa
47 - Dancing In The Sun
48 - Atlantis
DISCOGRAPHY OF SUN RA
2022: Ellingtonia, Vol. 1
2022: Prophet
2019: Solo Piano At Wkcr, 1977
2018: Of Abstract Dreams
2018: Crystal Spears
2015: I Roam The Cosmos
2015: The Anthology Album
2003: Spaceship Lullaby
2000: Standards
1999: Janus
1998: Somewhere Else
1998: Spaceways
1990: Purple Night
1989: Blue Delight
1988: Hidden Fire 1
1988: Hidden Fire 2
1985: Cosmo Sun Connection
1985: Hiroshima
1985: When Spaceships Appear
1983: Ra to the Rescue
1983: Just Friends
1982: Oblique Parallax
1982: Strange Celestial Road
1981: Aurora Borealis
1980: Of Mythic Worlds
1979: Visions
1979: Omniverse
1978: Lanquidity
1978: New Steps
1977: Solo Piano, Volume 1
1976: Cosmos
1975: What's New?
1975: What's New?
1974: The Antique Blacks
1973: Space Is the Place
1972: Astro Black
1970: Nothing Is...
1970: Nothing Is…
1968: Monorails and Satellites
1957: Sun Song
1957: Jazz By Sun Ra