Sun Ra is one of the most charismatic and fascinating figures in Jazz music. He is a mystic, philosopher, writer,community leader,composer,arranger,bandleader and pianist among other things. He was a Jazz pioneer who was not in the mainstream of Jazz yet he was respected by all as being a major figure. Tonight's Jazz feature is an early Sun Ra date with his "Arkestra" done for his own label, Saturn in Chicago in 1956 called "Super Sonic Jazz". A few of his core members like tenor saxophonist John Gilmore and baritone saxophonist Charles Davis were in the band. Other people were trombonist Julian Priester and the great Chicago trumpeter Art Hoyle. All twelve tunes with one exception are by Sun Ra and "Soft Talk" was written by Julian Priester. Fine solos by all abound and some great piano work on both acoustic and early electric piano by Sun Ra. A pioneering early work by someone who was very much ahead of his time....Sun Ra!
