The Sun Ra Arkestra

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The Sun Ra Arkestra
The Sun Ra Arkestra 2023 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Church Street Marketplace downtown Burlington VT June 2023 01.jpg
2023 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
Background information
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres Jazz
Years activemid-1950s - present
Past members Sun Ra, Atakatune (Stanley Morgan), Danny Ray Thompson
Website sunraarkestra.com

The Sun Ra Arkestra is an American jazz group formed in the mid-1950s and led by keyboardist/composer Sun Ra until his death in 1993. The group is considered a pioneer of afrofuturism. [1] [2] Since 1995 the Arkestra has been led by saxophonist Marshall Allen, an Arkestra member since 1958, who is supported by more than a dozen other musicians. [3] [4] For 2026 Grammy Awards, they received a nomination for the album Lights on a Satellite in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category. [5]

Contents

History

The band is headquartered in a rowhouse in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Saxophonist and current leader Marshall Allen has lived and worked in the house since 1968. [6]

In 1968, vocalist June Tyson joined the group. She helped to define the Arkestra's sound through her vocals and spoken word, and contributed to its distinctive costumes and choreography. Her close collaboration with Sun Ra continued until her death in 1992. [7]

In 1976, Vincent Chancey, an American jazz hornist joined the group. [3]

In 1993, John Gilmore became the leader of the Arkestra after Sun Ra died. [8] [4]

In 1995, Allen became the leader of the Arkestra after Gilmore's death. [9] [4]

In 1999, the Arkestra released the studio album, A Song for the Sun. [3]

In 2009, Philadelphia's Institute of Contemporary Art hosted an exhibition of the group's history and artistry. [2]

In 2012 Tara Middleton, a violinist and vocalist joined the group. [3] [10]

In 2017, the Arkestra opened for Solange on her tour supporting her 2016 album, A Seat at the Table . [2]

In 2019, the Arkestra had a major performance at the Hollywood Theater in Portland, Oregon. [2]

In October 2020, the Sun Ra Arkestra released Swirling, the first album the band released in 20 years. [6] [3] The band recorded the album at Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Soundworks and was released on Strut Records. [2] The album features the first-ever recording of Sun Ra's song "Darkness." [11]

Music style and influences

The Arkestra draws from a range of musical genres: swing, rock 'n' roll, Chicago blues, improvisation and electronic. [10]

When the Arkestra performs, the band members wear flashy capes and sequined headdresses. [6] [10]

Members

Current line-up [12]

Discography

Studio Albums

See also Sun Ra discography

Live Albums

References

  1. ↑ "On 'Swirling,' Marshall Allen Keeps The Sun Ra Arkestra Soaring Through Space". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Shaffer, Claire (2020-06-23). "Sun Ra Arkestra Announce First Album in 20 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Effinger, Shannon. "Marshall Allen is 96 years old and still leading one of the most visionary jazz groups of all time". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  4. 1 2 3 Sullivan, Robert (2024-06-24). "The Sun Ra Arkestra's Maestro Hits One Hundred". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  5. ↑ "2026 GRAMMYS: See The Full Nominations List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  6. 1 2 3 "After partial collapse, neighbors help make Sun Ra's Philly space the place again". WHYY. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  7. ↑ "Sun Ra Arkestra's June Tyson Was the Queen of Afrofuturism". Bandcamp Daily. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  8. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Marshall Allen Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  9. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Marshall Allen Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  10. 1 2 3 Russonello, Giovanni (2020-10-27). "Earth Couldn't Contain Sun Ra's Ideas. His Arkestra Is Still Exploring Them". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  11. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (2020-07-16). "Sun Ra Arkestra Revisit Jazz Legend's Classics on New Album 'Swirling'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  12. ↑ "The Sun Ra Arkestra Official Website". The Sun Ra Arkestra Official Website. 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  13. ↑ Bloom, Madison (2022-07-21). "Sun Ra Arkestra Announce New Album Living Sky, Share New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  14. ↑ "Sun Ra Arkestra: Lights on a Satellite album review". All About Jazz. 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  15. ↑ Fordham, John (2015-07-02). "Sun Ra Arkestra/Marshall Allen: Babylon Live review – otherwordly space-jazz". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-11-15.
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