Saturn via Camden: Experiencing The Sun Ra Arkestra

"If you find Earth boring/Just the same ol' same thing..."

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Guitarist Carl LeBlanc takes a solo (photo by me)

Back in in August, I decided on a whim to see the Sun Ra Arkestra perform at The Forge, a tiny club in Camden.

Now, I have to admit from the outset that I was a total newcomer to the world (or worlds) of the Arkestra going into this gig. I'd heard they played "space jazz," and seen pictures of them performing in their dazzling, space age, Ancient Egyptian-inspired outfits - but was totally unfamiliar with the music. Since the show, however, I’ve been hoovering up any information I can find about this unique band. One of the first things I stumbled upon was this TV appearance from 1989, which serves as a great introduction to what Sun Ra was all about:

The man known as Sun Ra left this earth 30 years ago, meaning that the Arkestra – much like the still-extant Duke Ellington and Count Basie orchestras – could be considered a “ghost band,” continuing on even in the absence of their departed leader. In practice, however, that’s not the case at all. Sun Ra, while no longer around in physical form, is still present in spirit when his band takes the stage, and the ensemble performs as if still under the gaze of their demanding bandleader.

Sun Ra in 1973 (photographer unknown, likely Francis Ing; public domain)

Since 1995, the Arkestra has been led by "Maestro" Marshall Allen, who joined the band in 1958. Marshall is now 99 years old and, while still performing, no longer travels outside the US. In his stead for this London date was another Sun Ra veteran: Knoel Scott, who joined the group in 1979. This kind of longevity is not unusual in the Arkestra. Many band members have been in place for decades, still fully committed to spreading Sun Ra’s message: space is the place.

Watching the Sun Ra Arkestra is like witnessing an ancient ritual being acted out. Knoel Scott is the nucleus, seated at the centre of the stage and alternating between saxophone, percussion and vocals. He directs individual band members by locking eyes with them and acting out what he wants them to do, mimicking pounding out piano chords or picking a guitar solo. Horn players like Michael Ray (who, years ago, was bestowed the title of “Intergalactic Research Tone Scientist” by Sun Ra) wait patiently to play their parts, while the dreadlocked figure of percussionist Elson Nascimento watches over the band from the back of the stage.

The Arkestra in full swing (photo by me)

New Orleans guitarist Carl Leblanc recorded with the Arkestra in the 1980s, and is not listed as a current member of the group on their website; and yet, here he is, playing brilliant jazzy rhythm and occasionally standing up to take a masterful solo. Tara Middleton handles most of the vocals, and sometimes adds violin to the swirling soundscape. It feels as though the entire history of jazz is represented, with the band transitioning seamlessly from conventional big band, to Latin music, to Chicago blues, to cacophonous free jazz without missing a step. At one point, with the crowd in reverent silence, Scott, Middleton and LeBlanc huddle around what appears to be a very old, dog-eared book of charts, apparently deciding what to play next.

What surprised me most about seeing the Arkestra perform was how, even though many of these musicians have played hundreds, possibly thousands, of shows together, very little of what they do is by rote. In a tiny venue like The Forge, I could watch the little interactions between the players: the raised eyebrows and smiles when someone played something unexpected, or the laughter that followed a knowing glance or private joke. Occasionally, bandleader Scott would turn and look at percussionist Nascimento, who would nod mysteriously in response as if to confirm that everything was going to plan. It was a joy to watch musicians so happy and comfortable in each other’s company, who are still willing and able to push each other into new musical territory.

Band

Knoel Scott - alto and baritone saxophone, percussion, vocals

Tara Middleton - vocals and percussion

Elson Nascimento - percussion

Jorge Silva - percussion

George Grey - drums

Tyler Mitchell - upright bass

Alex Harding - baritone saxophone

James Stewart - tenor saxophone

Chris Hemingway - alto and soprano saxophone

Michael Ray - trumpet, vocals

Cecil Brooks - trumpet

Ramón Valle - piano

Here’s some footage from a concert in a Hamburg a few days after the show I saw:

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