Madison
WI 53703
The legendary Sun Ra Arkestra retains its place at the outer limits of our imagination with over 60 years of eclectic, outrageous, mystifying music and performance imbued with a powerful jazz consciousness. This intergalactic phenomena and precedent for AfroFuturism will be witnessed in its full glory of sound and movement.
Marshall Allen, alto saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and arranger, continues to pursue and spread the vision of the enigmatic pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Sun Ra. Allen began working with Sun Ra in 1958 and assumed the helm of the Sun Ra Arkestra after Sun Ra’s ascension in 1993, and John Gilmore’s in 1995. At age 95, Allen continues to compose and arrange for the Arkestra and, much like his mentor, is totally committed to a life of discipline centered on the study, research, and further development of Sun Ra’s musical precepts.
Sun Ra was the first to pursue full-scale collective improvisation in a big band setting, one of the first jazz musicians to perform and record on electronic instruments, and his preoccupation with space travel as a compositional subject pre-dated bands like Weather Report and Earth Wind & Fire by about 15 years. All from someone refusing to cite Earth as his home planet having arrived here from Saturn.
As Sun Ra once explained, “I never wanted to be a part of planet Earth, but I am compelled to be here, so anything I do for this planet is because the Master-Creator of the Universe is making me do it. I am of another dimension. I am on this planet because people need me.” For more info about Sun Ra Arkestra: http://www.sunraarkestra.com/
Two sets of music presentation, 6 PM and 9 PM. Tickets on sale now! Please pay attention to choose the right start time. Admission $40 (students $35 with ID)
