Jazz in Silhouette
Encyclopedia
Jazz in Silhouette is a jazz album by Sun Ra and His Arkestra
. Recorded on March 6, 1959 and released May of the same year. The album was recorded in Chicago during a session that also included the whole of Sound Sun Pleasure!!
and Interstellar Low Ways
from the album of the same name. The album is considered to be one of Ra's best from his Chicago period before veering off into 'their full-fledged explorations into the avant-garde' that characterises the recordings made in New York
in the 1960s.
Recorded in 1959 at El Saturn Studio, Chicago, the album is one of three records that the Arkestra released in the 1950s - the other two being Jazz by Sun Ra
and Super-Sonic Jazz
. Originally released in a simple silk-screened cover credited to HP Corbissero , the album had gained its sci-fi cover, 'of half-naked women teleporting themselves over one of the moons of Saturn', credited to 'Evans' by the early 1960s. The album was reissued by Impulse in 1974, and released on CD by Evidence in 1992.
When originally released, the album's sides were reversed, starting with Hours After at the beginning of side one, and ending side two with Ancient Aiethopia. Enlightenment in particular was to become a staple of the Arkestra's concerts, often featuring chanted lyrics.
selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection" and awarded it a "crown" accolade, stating "This marvellous record will one day be recognised as one of the most important jazz records since the war."
Side A:
Side B:
For some years the record was believed to have been recorded in 1958, until the musicologist and discographer Robert Campbell uncovered the original tape box, clearly dated March 6, 1959. The album's release was mentioned a few months later in the Chicago Defender of June 9 (Sun Ra Discs Hit Album!) .
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
. Recorded on March 6, 1959 and released May of the same year. The album was recorded in Chicago during a session that also included the whole of Sound Sun Pleasure!!
Sound Sun Pleasure!!
Sound Sun Pleasure!! is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra. Recorded March 6, 1959 , it wasn't released until 1970 on Sun Ra's Saturn label...
and Interstellar Low Ways
Interstellar Low Ways
Interstellar Low Ways is an album recorded by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra, mostly recorded in Chicago, 1960, and probably released in 1966 on his own Saturn label. Originally titled Rocket Number Nine, the album had acquired its present name, and the red-on-white...
from the album of the same name. The album is considered to be one of Ra's best from his Chicago period before veering off into 'their full-fledged explorations into the avant-garde' that characterises the recordings made in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the 1960s.
"Jazz in Silhouette stands as an overlooked masterpiece, a work that shows Ra not as a mere curiosity or backwater galaxy, but as a major creative force in the jazz universe, a center of gravity around which many of jazz’s major developments have orbited.This album simply inspires, no matter what perspective you adopt: rhythm, melody, ensemble or mood....Jazz in Silhouette shows Ra doing what he did like few others: looking at the past, present and future simultaneously while maintaining a unified musical direction.... what results is a captivating set of music that not only firmly establishes Ra in the jazz tradition, but actually puts him on its leading edge, pointing the direction forward." Mathew Wuethrich
Recorded in 1959 at El Saturn Studio, Chicago, the album is one of three records that the Arkestra released in the 1950s - the other two being Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz By Sun Ra is the debut album to be released by Sun Ra. The record label for the first pressing says "07-12-56", presumably when it was recorded. The LP originally appeared on Tom Wilson's short-lived Transition Records...
and Super-Sonic Jazz
Super-Sonic Jazz
Super-Sonic Jazz is an album by Sun Ra, recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios, Chicago. Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on Saturn records, the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham, and was one of only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s...
. Originally released in a simple silk-screened cover credited to HP Corbissero , the album had gained its sci-fi cover, 'of half-naked women teleporting themselves over one of the moons of Saturn', credited to 'Evans' by the early 1960s. The album was reissued by Impulse in 1974, and released on CD by Evidence in 1992.
When originally released, the album's sides were reversed, starting with Hours After at the beginning of side one, and ending side two with Ancient Aiethopia. Enlightenment in particular was to become a staple of the Arkestra's concerts, often featuring chanted lyrics.
Reception
The Penguin Guide to JazzThe Penguin Guide to Jazz
The Penguin Guide to Jazz is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which are currently available in Europe or the United States...
selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection" and awarded it a "crown" accolade, stating "This marvellous record will one day be recognised as one of the most important jazz records since the war."
12" Vinyl
Tracks written by Sun Ra, except where notedSide A:
- "Enlightenment" (Hobart Dotson, Ra) – (5:02)
- "Saturn" – (3:37)
- "Velvet" – (3:18)
- "Ancient Aiethopia" – (9:04)
Side B:
- "Hours After" (Ra, Turner) – (3:41)
- "Horoscope" – (3:43)
- "Images" – (3:48)
- "Blues at Midnight" – (11:56)
For some years the record was believed to have been recorded in 1958, until the musicologist and discographer Robert Campbell uncovered the original tape box, clearly dated March 6, 1959. The album's release was mentioned a few months later in the Chicago Defender of June 9 (Sun Ra Discs Hit Album!) .
Musicians
- Sun RaSun RaSun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
- Piano, Celeste, Gong - Hobart Dotson - Trumpet
- Marshall AllenMarshall AllenMarshall Belford Allen is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and EVI ....
- Alto Sax, Flute - James Spaulding - Alto Sax, Flute, percussion
- John GilmoreJohn Gilmore (musician)John Gilmore was an American jazz tenor saxophone player best-known for his long tenure as a member of Sun Ra's Arkestra...
- Tenor Sax, percussion - Bo Bailey - Trombone
- Pat Patrick - Baritone Sax, Flute, Percussion
- Charles DavisCharles Davis (saxophonist)Charles Davis is an American jazz baritone saxophonist who performed extensively with Archie Shepp and Sun Ra, among others.-Biography:...
- Baritone Sax, percussion - Ronnie BoykinsRonnie BoykinsRonnie Boykins was a jazz bassist and is best known for his work with pianist/bandleader Sun Ra, although he had played with such disparate musicians as Muddy Waters, Johnny Griffin, and Jimmy Witherspoon prior to joining Sun Ra's Arkestra.-Biography:He joined the Arkestra during the Chicago...
- Bass - William Cochran - Drums