Sun Ra – space-age prophet, Pharaonic jester, shaman-philosopher and avant-jazz keyboardist/bandleader – lands his spaceship in Oakland, having been presumed lost in space for a few years. With Black Power on the rise, Ra disembarks and proclaims himself ‘the alter-destiny’. He holds a myth-vs reality rap session with black inner-city youth at a rec center, threatening “to chain you up and take you with me, like they did you in Africa” if they resist his plea to go to outer space. He duels at cards with The Overseer, a satanic overlord, with the fate of the black race at stake. Ra wins the right to a world concert, which features great peformance footage of the Arkestra. Agents sent by the Overseer attempt to assassinate Ra, but he vanishes, rescues his people, and departs in his spaceship from the exploding planet Earth.

first bonus track is ‘that’s how i feel’ from my possibly favourite sun ra lp, ‘lanquidity’, from 1978 on philly jazz/evidence records:

second up is ‘when there is no sun’ from the equally rare album ‘new steps (live in rome)’ 1978:

styleguides can also recommend these books for a deeper view into the mystics and music of sun ra:

essential love songs towards the sun from the late 50s to now, starting off with nina simone’s beautiful version of ’summertime’ and closing with a hawaiian soul classic. a styleguides compilation not be missed!

this time’s bonus track is norman connor’s nearly astral jazz ode to the sun from 1974, not available on amazon and definitely in need of a proper reissue:

bonus music video shows the virtousity and mathematics behind coltrane’s landmark tune ‘giant steps’: