Interstellar Low Ways, by Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra

Interstellar Low Ways

by Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra

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1.	Onward 03:32	info	buy track
2.	Somewhere in Space 03:01	info	buy track
3.	Interplanetary Music No. 1 02:25	info	buy track
4.	Interstellar Low Ways (Stereo) 08:26	info	buy track
5.	Space Loneliness 04:34	info	buy track
6.	Space Aura 03:11	info	buy track
7.	Rocket Number 9 06:20	info	buy track

about

Compiled from three Chicago recording sessions, Interstellar Low Ways was a showcase for Sunny's “Space Bop,” “Space Blues,” and his “New Directions” compositions. Stressing his pan-galactic persona, Sun Ra was rapidly pushing jazz farther into the Space Age in his titles, as evidenced by this album's offerings. Musically, he continued looking backward and forward simultaneously, drawing on jazz's rich traditions of swing and bebop, while adding flourishes of modernism that evolved into his unmistakable style. Around this time the Arkestra began to perform live wearing space costumes (which Sunny designed). The arrangements featured various members of the Arkestra doubling on exotic percussion. Two tracks, "Interplanetary Music" and "Rocket Number Nine," feature the band's ensemble space chants.

At this point in Arkestra history, Sunny was coaching Gilmore to play less hard bop and instead to feel his way around the compositions despite their hard bop arrangements.

Though the recording sessions were done around 1957-1960, the album was not released until 1966, under the title Rocket Number Nine. In 1969 it was reissued with the above cover and retitled Interstellar Low Ways. Other tracks from these sessions were released on Fate in a Pleasant Mood, Holiday for Soul Dance, Angels and Demons At Play, and We Travel the Spaceways.

This digital release features a previously unreleased stereo version of the title track.

– I.C.

credits

released April 2, 2014

2014, Enterplanetary Koncepts
All tracks produced by Sun Ra
Probably recorded at Balkan Studio and Hall Recording Company between 1957-1960

PERSONNEL:
Sun Ra: piano, chimes, gong
Phil Cohran: trumpet (2, 3, 5, 7)
Nate Pryor: trombone (2, 3, 5, 7)
George Hudson: trumpet (1, 6)
John Gilmore: tenor sax, percussion
Pat Patrick: percussion (4)
Hobart Dotson: percussion (4)
Marshall Allen: alto sax, flute
James Spaulding: flute (4)
Ronnie Boykins: bass, percussion
Jon Hardy: drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
William Cochran: drums (4)

All titles composed by Sun Ra © Enterplanetary Koncepts (BMI)

Tape transfers by Michael D. Anderson of the Sun Ra Music Archive
Digital restoration by Michael D. Anderson and Irwin Chusid

Issued under license from Sun Ra LLC

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Sun Ra New York, New York

A Helpful Guide to the Many Sun Ra Albums on Bandcamp: daily.bandcamp.com/2017/10/13/sun-ra-album-guide
The foremost figure in musical Afro-futurism and space-jazz. Keyboardist, composer, Arkestra leader, arranger, philosopher-jester, fashion icon, cosmic guide. Born Herman Blount in Alabama, 1914, left the planet in 1993, giving Earthlings a monumental catalog of recordings that transcend genre. ... more

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