Tue 10/16 @ 7:30PM
There were few stranger artists in 20th century music than Sun Ra. While he and his Sun Ra Arkestra were usually slotted in the “jazz” category, they certainly weren’t like your typical jazz ensemble of the mid 20th century when they emerged. Ra, whose birth name was Herman Blount, claimed to have been an alien from Saturn (actually he was from Alabama) or abducted by UFOs and taken to Saturn … or something.
His music, a crazy-quilt of styles which stitched older, traditional styles of jazz such as swing and ragtime into an avant-garde, freeform [un]structure, was enhanced by Ra’s striking stage presence and elaborate, colorful costumes and is considered a progenitor of Afrofuturism. Some view them as a sort of jazz version of Parliament-Funkadelic, and certainly, they have that same freewheeling sui generis vibe.
Ra hiself died in 1993 at the age of 79 but the Arkestra continues on, led by 94-year-old sax player Marshall Allen, one of the group’s original members.
The Arkestra will perform at the Music Box Supper Club, with Akron instrumental soul band Nathan Paul & the Admirables opening. Tickets are $25-$35.
musicboxcle.com/event/sun-ra-arkestra-oct16/
Cleveland, OH 44113