Sun Ra Arkestra walking and playing among the audience in Paradiso 1970
Albumdata
| Artist | Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra |
| Album | Paradiso Amsterdam 1970 |
| Year of release | 2023 |
Rating
Introduction
On November 26, 2023, I read a review of this album in Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, which contained all the buzzwords to praise the album: the title alone mentioned ‘legendary’ and ‘sublime’. It made me curious.
Because the album isn’t available on streaming services, I ordered the album at Nederlands Jazz Archief, responsible for this release, and received it on December 5, 2023. I have listened to it multiple times since. And, fair is fair, the review I read didn’t overstate a thing.
Sun Ra – Paradiso 1970
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was born as Herman Poole Blount on May 22, 1914. According to his own words he went through a life-altering experience at the age of 22/23.
My whole body changed into something else. I could see through myself. And I went up… I wasn’t in human form… I landed on a planet that I identified as Saturn… they teleported me and I was down on [a] stage with them. They wanted to talk with me. They had one little antenna on each ear. A little antenna over each eye. They talked to me. They told me to stop [attending college] because there was going to be great trouble in schools… the world was going into complete chaos… I would speak [through music], and the world would listen. That’s what they told me.
© wikipedia.org
In 1952 he would officially change his name to Le Sony’r Ra. In 1957 Sun Ra debuted with the album Jazz By Sun Ra. It would signal the start of one of the most elaborate discographies in the world. Much of his music was released on his own label El Saturn Records. Sun Ra regularly experimented and his music ranges from bebop to freejazz and from big band to funk. Sun Ra himself dubbed his music ‘cosmic jazz’ or ‘phre music’. But what is basically comes down to is that the music of Sun Ra and his ever evolving Arkestra were a genre unto itself.
Sun Ra died on May 30, 1993.
Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Research Arkestra – Paradiso Amsterdam 1970
Review
On November 18, 1970, Sun Ra and his orchestra descended onto the Paradiso in Amsterdam. At the time Dutch jazz musician Hans Dulfer organized jazz evenings on a regular basis and pursued Sun Ra. He succeeded, Sun Ra came, saw and conquered. The audience was flabbergasted, both musically and visually. Some sort of total theater with Sun Ra and his 20 musicians strong Intergalactic Research Arkestra.
The show was recorded for broadcast on (Dutch) NOS-radio (as stated in the review of Dutch newspaper NRC Handelblad). The original recordings were deemed missing for a long time, but have recently been found, restored and mastered for this release.
And the release really is impressive. The sound is great and the atmosphere does shine through. The group effortlessly segues into genres and improvises with grace, which results in new pieces of music as well, like the beautiful Paradiso Improviso #1. The first part of the recordings are more experimental and slowly evolve into more recognizable rhythms and structures, such as the rousing Walking On The Moon and Watusa. The closing Paradiso Outro shows Sun Ra and his Arkestra once more in all their uniqueness and originality.
In short: a great tip by de Volkskrant. Recommended!
N.B.:
The Dutch version of this review contains the original reviews which appeared in 3 Dutch newspaper on November 19, 1970. Click on the Dutch flag or follow this link.
In closing
Have you listened to the recordings? What’s your take? Let me know!
