''Space is the Place'' is an
album by
Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Solar Arkestra. The music was recorded in early 1972 in
San Francisco, California for the film ''
Space Is the Place''.
However, the music remained unreleased until Evidence Music issued a
compact disc in 1993.
During the late-1960s and early-1970s, Sun Ra and his ensemble made several forays to
California. In 1971, Sun Ra taught a course, "The Black Man in the Cosmos," at
University of California, Berkeley.
Over the course of these California visits, Sun Ra came to the attention of
Jim Newman James Newman may refer to:
* James Newman (actor) (born 1992), American actor
* James Newman (singer), English singer-songwriter
* James C. Newman, American engineer and materials scientist
* James H. Newman (born 1956), American astronaut
* James ...
, who produced the film ''Space Is the Place'' starring Sun Ra and his Arkestra, and based, in part, on Sun Ra's Berkeley lectures.
The soundtrack CD compiles 16 tracks that Sun Ra recorded for the film.
Critical reception
''
The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' describes the album as "a brisk montage of Arkestra music....
works remarkably well and the playing is tight and enigmatic."
The ''Penguin'' editors also note that "Mysterious Crystal" is of particular interest, with the track "combining a huge array of elements into something that simply cannot be characterized by reference to any other music."
of
Allmusic describes the tracks as being "among Sun Ra's most ambitious, unorthodox, and compelling compositions."
Track listing
All compositions and arrangements by Sun Ra.
# "It's After the End of the World" – 3:25
# "Under Different Stars" – 3:55
# "Discipline 33" – 3:22
# "Watusa" – 7:11
# "Calling Planet Earth" – 3:04
# "I Am the Alter-Destiny" – 1:08
# "Satellites Are Spinning" – 2:33
# "Cosmic Forces" – 3:09
# "Outer Spaceways Incorporated"– 3:00
# "We Travel the Spaceways" – 2:28
# "The Overseer" – 3:04
# "Blackman/Love in Outer Space" – 16:53
# "Mysterious Crystal" – 5:53
# "I Am the Brother of the Wind" – 5:54
# "We'll Wait for You" – 4:11
# "Space Is the Place" – 4:23
Personnel
* Sun Ra – piano,
Minimoog
The Minimoog is an analog synthesizer first manufactured by Moog Music between 1970 and 1981. Designed as a more affordable, portable version of the modular Moog synthesizer, it was the first synthesizer sold in retail stores. It was first popul ...
,
Farfisa organ,
Clavinet
The Clavinet is an electrically amplified clavichord invented by Ernst Zacharias and manufactured by the Hohner company of Trossingen, West Germany, from 1964 to 1982. The instrument produces sounds by a rubber pad striking a point on a tension ...
, Rocksichord, declamation
* Kwame Hadi –
trumpet,
conga
The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). ...
,
vibraphone
* Wayne Harris – trumpet
*
Marshall Allen –
alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in E, smaller than the B tenor ...
,
flute
The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...
,
oboe,
bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...
,
kora
Kora may refer to:
Places India
* Kora, Bardhaman, West Bengal
* Kora, Bharuch, Gujarat
* Korha, Katihar, also known as Kora, in Bihar
* Kora, Kendrapara, Odisha
* Kora, Wardha, Maharastra
* Kora, Tumakuru, Karnataka
* Toyaguda, Adilabad, Telan ...
,
cowbell,
percussion
* Danny Davis – alto saxophone, flute,
bass clarinet
The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B (meaning it is a transposing instrument on which a written C sounds as B), but it plays notes an octave bel ...
, percussion
* Larry Northington – alto saxophone, conga, percussion
*
John Gilmore – tenor saxophone,
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
, percussion, vocals
* Eloe Omoe – bass clarinet,
bongos, percussion
*
Danny Ray Thompson –
baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass. It is the lowest-pitched saxophone in common use - the bass, contra ...
, percussion
*
Lex Humphries – drums
* Ken Moshesh – conga
*
June Tyson – vocals,
bells
Release history
References
{{Sun Ra
Sun Ra albums
1993 soundtrack albums
Evidence Music soundtracks
Science fiction film soundtracks