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NEWS FROM SATURN There is always change in the air Sign up for our mailing list here And don't forget to add webmaster@sunraarkestra.com to your addressbook to avoid our messages going to your spam folder. |
Posted: January 18th. 2019 Announcing the first 2019 European Tour The Sun Ra Arkestra announces the first European Tour for this year, with performances in April and May. We have 10 confirmed dates by now, but we'll surely add more during the next weeks. Countries include U.K., Belgium, Germany, Austria and Hungary. Please check the ontour page for details. |
Posted: November 28th. 2018 First tourdates for 2019 We are proud to announce our first 4 dates for Januray 2019: two in Portland and one in Seattle and Baltimore. Please see the on tour page for details. And keep tuned, we are publishing more very soon! We keep travelling the spaceways (from planet to planet)! |
Posted: October 20th. 2018 Atakatune leaves the planet Stanley Morgan Atakatune, Sun Ra Arkestra Percussionist, has departed the planet on Oct. 17th. 2018. He first joined the band in 1972, touring and recording intensively since then, and appearing in all major recordings by Sun Ra and the Arkestra. He rejoined the band in the 21st. century and appeared in many shows under the direction of Marshall Allen. He will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences to all family and friends. |
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Posted: October 18th. 2018 Nublu Jazz Festival (NY) & Music Box Village (LA) announced The band announces upcoming performances at the Nublu Jazz Festival, in New York City (November 10th) and Music Box Village, New Orleans, on November 16th. and 17th. These are the posters for both events. |
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Posted: September 11th. 2018 Halloween performance at Johnny Brenda's & two more shows Finally, the band will perform their Halloween concert at Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, on October 31st. Also, we have added two more upcoming shows at the ontour page, one in Rochester, NY and another one in New York City. See the ontour page for details. |
Posted: August 23rd. 2018 The performance at Union Pool rescheduled for Setpt. 1st The performance at Union Pool, Brooklyn, which was canceled on June 23rd. due to weather conditions, has been rescheduled for September 1st. |
Posted: August 6th. 2018 New dates in USA announced We have just included at our ontour page a bunch of dates for next fall, all in the United States. Check them and see if something is happening close to your place! |
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Posted: July 11th. 2018 The Arkestra appearing on Strangewaves, Paris, Canada The band will perform two sets at the upcoming "Strangeways 4: Ever in Paris" festival. Not Paris, France, but Paris, Ontario, Canada. Saturday July 21st. is the date. Many other important names are playing also there, see the complete list at the image. |
Posted: Jun 22nd. 2018 Concert in Brooklyn postponed until September The concert announced in Union Pool, Brooklyn, for June 23rd. has been postponed until September 1st. due to the impending bad weather. Sorry for the inconveniences. |
Posted: May 12th. 2018 Free "Space is the Place" at Damrosch Park As part of the 10th. anniversary of the NYC club "Le Poisson Rouge", the 1974 Afrofuturist film "Space is the Place" wil be screened with the band playing the score live. This free performance will be presented as part of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2018, and takes place on Damrosch Park on Wed. August 8th at 6:30pm. |
Posted: April 27th. 2018 New dates announced We have just updated the list of upcoming performances with two more dates in New York, one in Baltimore and another one for the Australian Tour next June. Also 2 performances in Italy and one in Moscow, Russia. See the ontour page for details. The performance at the Iridium, in New York City, on May 30th. will also be a celebration for the birthdays of Sun Ra, Marshall Allen and Charles Davis. |
Posted: March 1st. 2018 Upcoming performances in Australia The band will be back in Australia next June, performing in Melbourne (on 6th.) and Canberra (on 7th.). More info at the ontour page. |
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Posted: February 16th. 2018 The Arkestra appearing at Roots Picnic, Philadelphia The band is appearing on Roots Picnic Festival, Philadelphia, on June 2nd. Ticket sale and complete info at http://rootspicnic.com/philly/ |
Posted: January 28th. 2018 New on youtube Just published on youtube.com, a complete performance by the Sun Ra Arkestra at the Jazz Cafe, London, filmed during their 3 days residence there past June. A great performance, with special guest Shabaka Hutchings. Don't miss it, and don't forget to stop the flash player on the upper frame before :-) |
Posted: December 22nd. 2017 First dates for 2018! We are proud to announce the first confirmed dates for year 2018. Please take a look at the on tour page, and see if there is a performance close to your town. And have a Cosmic New Year! |
Posted: December 22nd. 2017 Performance in benefit of Doctors without Borders It hadn't been previously announced (one of these last minute decissions), but the Sun Ra Arkestra played past Dec. 19th in New York City, Bowery Ballroom, with Yo La Tengo, Jon Glaser and DJ Gaylor Fields, in a performance in benefit of the organisation Doctors Without Borders, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, and which makes such an important job all across the world. |
Posted: December 12th. 2017 New Year's Eve in Chicago The Sun Ra Arkestra will start 2018 at Constellation, Chicago, where they are playing two days (Dec. 30th & 31st.), two sets per day. More info at the tourdates page. |
Posted: November 15th. 2017 Back from Europe, back in Philadelphia Just arrived from the Netherlands, where the last European tour ended, the band announces a performance in Philadelphia for Nov. 25th. See the on tour page for details... |
Posted: September 12th. 2017 - Updated Oct. 16th Next European Tour dates announced We have already the dates and venues for the next European Tour of the Sun Ra Arkestra, which will take the band to United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Greece, Germany and The Netherlands between Oct. 27th. and Nov. 12th. A performance in Staten Island on Oct. 21st. has been announced as well. All the info at the tourdates page. |
Posted: September 1st. 2017 Performances with Solange The Sun Ra Arkestra is appearing with Solange in Boston, Washington and New York City, for a performance called "Orion's Rise". Check dates and get more info at the tourdates page. |
Posted: July 24th. 2017 Dates in USA! Finished the last European tour, and after performing in Philadelphia yesterday, tha band announces more dates for this Summer and Autumn in the United States. See the ontour page for details! |
Posted: July 8th. 2017 Pictures from Italy Photographer Alberto Terrile has published a gallery with beautiful b/w photos from the Arkestra's recent performance in Finale Ligure. You can watch them at http://www.albertoterrile.it/portfolio/sun-ra-arkestra-directed-by-marshall-allen/ |
Posted: June 25th. 2017 Performance in Finale Ligure on July 7th. In addition to the previously announced dates for the current European Tour, the band will perform also in the Italian city of Finale Ligure, more or less half-way between Genova and Nice. It will be an open air event, with free admission. |
Posted: May 3rd. 2017 New tourdates added We have just added to our tourdates page an upcoming performance in Philadelphia, PA, for May 20th., as well as a new European tour which will take place on the last days of June and the first days of July. The band is now visiting U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Montenegro, France and Finland. Always travelling the spaceways! |
Posted: January 12th. 2017 First tourdates for 2017 With the new year just begun, The Sun Ra Arkestra announces the first European Tour for 2017. As today, the list includes performances in Belgium, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Italy, though it could be expanded from now on. Please check the ontour page for details. |
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Posted: December 6th 2016 Hartmut Geerken, guest in Munich The band ended the recent European Tour with a performance in Munich, Germany. Hartmut Geerken, longtime friend of Sun Ra and the Arkestra and author of the book "Omniverse Sun Ra" was invited to join the Arkestra on stage and play the "solar sun harp" which Sun Ra gave to him in a visit to Egypt. Photo: Johanna da Luz. Click on the image for a larger picture. |
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Posted: November 24th 2016 Nublu Jazz Festival The Sun Ra Arkestra will perform two sets at the upcoming Nublu Jazz Festival in New York City. December 9th., 10 pm and midnight. Info and tickets at http://www.nublu.net |
Posted: November 16th 2016 The Arkestra begins a new European Tour The Sun Ra Arkestra plays in Washington, DC on Nov. 19th. before leaving for Europe again. This time, they are playing in Uk, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany. Please check the tourdates page for details. |
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Posted: July 26th. 2016 Charles Davis leaves the planet Jazz giant Charles Davis, tenor and baritone saxophonist, left the planet on July 15th. He was 83. Born in Goodman, Mississippi, during his more than 60 years of career, Charles composed, recorded and taught music, and on his performing side he played with nearly all the main jazz musicians. Charles first entered the Arkestra in 1955, and played in such important Sun Ra early recordings as "Jazz in Silhouette", "Supersonic Jazz" or "Sound Sun Pleasure". After some years in the Arkestra, he left to continue his own career, appearing in near 100 recordings, 8 under his own name. He came back during the last years of Sun Ra (1989-1990), touring and playing in "Pleiades" and "Friendly Galaxy". In all these recordings, he played only baritone. And around 2000, he came back to the Arkestra directed by Marshall Allen to play tenor. A memorial will be held at Saint Peter’s Church in New York City on September 24, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to support the mission of Jazzmobile: to Present, Preserve, Promote and Propagate JAZZ. |
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Posted: July 25th. 2016 The Arkestra, on the New York Times A beautiful photo shot by Drew Anthony Smith taken at the Pitchfork Festival on July 17th. has been included on the slideshow "Street Style: Pitchfork Music Festival", at the Style section of the New York Times. Here is the link to the complete slideshow. |
Posted June 28th. 2016 Dates in Europe & USA added to the tour schedule We have just updated the on tour page adding new dates in Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and USA for the next two months. Tha band is still arranging other performances, so keep connected! |
Posted May 2nd. 2016 Two dates in London added to upcoming European Tour While the band flies for Japan, where they are performing on 2016 "Worldwide Session" next May 4th., we are proud to announce that the next tour will include two days in London, May 14th. and 15th., at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, at the heart of Hackney. |
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Posted April 18th. 2016 With Jerry Gonzalez in Madrid Latin Jazz celebrity Jerry Gonzalez attended the Arkestra's performance in Madrid and was talking with Marshall & other members of the band before the concert. As Danny Thompson's baritone hadn't arrived in time, he provided another one so Discipline-27 could sound as always. Thanks, Jerry! |
April 14th. 2016 - New dates announced We have just updated our "on Tour" page with new dates, including a second European Tour in May and some other performances in USA. Don't miss them! |
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March 16th. 2016. The Sun Ra Arkestra announces a surprise performance in Austin, Texas for March 18th. |
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March 16th. 2016. Here is a flyer for the upcoming performance in Worldwide Session in Japan |
February 23rd. 2016 - European Tour announced for April, as well as other dates in USA & Japan You may find at the Ontour page the list of performances confirmed by now for the 60th. Anniversary Tour. A second tour in May will be announced soon. |
November 29th. First dates for 2016 already announced The Sun Ra Arkestra is proud to open the 2016 tab at the ontour page with the first 5 performances confirmed for 2016, all in USA by now. Many more will be added soon... |
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November 27th. The Arkestra appearing on the Sixth Annual Nublu Jazz Festival The Sun Ra Arkestra will perform at Nublu, New York City, next Dec. 5th. at the Nublu Jazz Festival. |
October 1st. Two dates in U.K. announced for end of October The Sun Ra Arkestra will perform two shows in Cafe Oto, London, in October 24th. and in Nottingham in October 25th. See the ontour page for details. |
August 28th. 2015 - New Dates in USA announced We have just updated our "On Tour" page adding new dates in Richmond, New York City, Philadelphia & Rochester. Please note also that the performance first announced for Sept. 11th. in Baltimore has moved to Oct. 9th. |
July 19th. 2015 - New European Tour announced for August At the "On Tour" page, you may find the complete list of performances all across Europe just confirmed for next month, as well as a new performance in Cleveland for November. |
May 30th. 2015 - New tourdates confirmed We have just updated the "on tour" page announcing new performances in United Kingdom, New York and Philadelphia. Don't miss them. |
May 21st. 2015 - Celebration performance The Sun Ra Arkestra will celebrate the arrivals on Earth of Sun Ra and Maestro Marshall Allen with a performance in Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA. Come and join us! |
April 20th. New upcoming performances announced We have just added to our "on tour" page several performances in USA & Europe for the next months, and many more will be announced very soon. Stay tuned! |
January 11th. First dates for 2015 announced! 2014, year of Sun Ra's centennary, was one of the most intense for the Sun Ra Arkestra so far, visiting many countries and playing in all continents except Africa and Antarctica. After a few weeks break, the band starts 2015 touring again with a performance in New York City at the end of January, and their first visit to Europe in mid-March. See the "on tour" page for details. |
November 29th. New Year's Eve performance in Chicago announced. While the band is returning to USA from their recent tour in Europe, a performance in Constellation, Chicago, is announced for New Year's Eve. See the "On Tour" page for more info. |
October 25th. An essay about Sun Ra by writer Stefany Anne Golberg We are proud to include in our website, in the page about Sun Ra and with the author's permission, a beautiful and philosophical essay by Stefany Anne Golberg, first appeared in May for Sun Ra's Centennial in "The Smart Set", an online magazine from Drexel University. She has made some corrections from the original text specially for our website. Thanks, Stefany Anne! |
October 25th. New European Tour announced for the last days of November The band will fly to Europe again in November, for a short tour with 3 dates in London, 1 in Denmark and 2 more in Poland. See the ontour page for details. |
October 17th. Tribute to John Ore in New York City on Oct. 20th John Ore, who began playing bass with the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1961 and had been sporadically playing with the band since then, left the planet past August. There will be a Memorial Tribute in New York City next monday, where members of the Arkestra are supposed to be. Saint Peter's Church, 619 Lexington Avenue, at 54th. Street. 6:30 pm. |
October 17th. New peformance dates for the last part of 2014 After a few weeks break, the Sun Ra Arkestra returns to the stage with a Halloween performance in Washington, DC. A new date at Nublu, in New York City's East Village, has been also announced for the beginning of December. See the On Tour Page. There will be soon news about a new visit to Europe, surely at the end of November. Stay tuned! |
August 8th. Final Schedule for the upcoming European Tour The band is ready to fly again for Europe to start their third European Tour in 2014. Check the dates at our "on tour" page. |
August 3rd. A new video added to the multimedia page It's been published at Youtube the video recording of the Arkestra's recent performance in Lugano, July 11th. Great quality of image and sound. If you have missed this past tour with the extended lineup, you have a chance to watch an entire concert at our multimedia page. |
July 22nd. - Photo Gallery from Ljubljana and Cerkno Slovenian photographer Petra Cvelbar has published on her website a beautiful gallery with black & white pictures shot during the recent performances of the Arkestra in Ljubljana and Cerkno, July 18th. and 19th. Worth of a visit: |
July 17th. - Audio streaming of Primavera Sound Festival The band keeps touring Europe with the extended line up, and in the meanwhile, rbmradio.com makes available for all audiences the audio of the concert in Barcelona, past May 29th., during the Primavera Sound Festival. You can listen to it at http://www.rbmaradio.com/shows/sun-ra-arkestra-live-at-primavera-sound-2014
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July 8th. - Photo gallery from U.K. While the band flies to Europe for their next European tour with the extended lineup, we are proud to link with British photographer Gerald Jenkins' website, where there is a beautiful gallery of photos taken during the recent visit to U.K. You can watch them under the music section at
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July 6th. - Photo gallery from Japan The guys at Blue Note Tokyo have published at their website a report and a nice photo gallery from the recent performances by the Arkestra |
July 3rd. - BBC recording session available on line Two weeks after the Arkestra's recording session at the BBC studios in U.K., the complete session can be listened at BBC's website, along with several videos of the same event. It can be available only for a few days. Don't miss it! |
June 24th. - Two fragments from the film "A Joyful Noise" availables on our site Robert Mugge, director of the 1980 film "A Joyful Noise", the best documentary about Sun Ra ever filmed, has authorized our wbsite to show two long excerpts from his film, that you can watch at our multimedia page. Enjoy! Thanks, Robert! |
June 2nd. - More dates for the current European Tour The Sun Ra Arkestra announces 4 more performances in London for June 16-17 & 25-26, at Cafe Oto. |
May 25th - Marshall Allen's birthday Marshall Allen, director of the Sun Ra Arkestra, turned 90 on May 25th. The celebration was of the kind he likes, with a performance in Kassel, Germany. But after the show, the band shared with him this specially made cake:
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May 22nd - Today is Sun Ra's Centennial... and we announce new dates for July Coinciding with such an special date as today, a century ago from Sun Ra's arrival to our planet, we are pleased to announce a second European Tour for July. Please see the tourdates page to check if any is close to your earthly place. In this case, the band will be renamed as "Sun Ra Centennial Dream Arkestra", and will be expanded to a total of 22 musicians and 2 dancers. |
May 20th - Countdown for Sun Ra's Centennial Just two days for the Centennial of Sun Ra's arrival to this planet! The Arkestra keeps performing across Europe. On May 22nd., Sun Ra's Centennial, they will perform in Zurich, Switzerland. On May 25th., Marshall Allen's 90th. birthday, they are appearing in Kassel, Germany. Among the many celebrations for these dates, we recommend two radio broadcasts, both available through the web: Charles Blass does a total of 12 hours of Sun Ra radio in a two part program broadcast live from Zurich, Switzerland. Monday, May 19, 2014 - 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (midnight) EST ----------------------------------- Thursday, May 19, 2014 - Sunday, May 23, 2014 EST Including a 48 hours marathon on May 22nd.- 23rd. These events will be livestreamed at http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/wkcr/
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May 3rd - Final (?) schedule for the Sun Ra Arkestra "Jubilee Tour" across Europe We are pleased to announce the (by now) final list of upcoming performances in Europe during the Jubilee Tour, from May 17th. to June 27th. It's a long time since the band did such a long European tour, covering many countries and different kind of venues. Please see the tourdates page to find a performance close to your location. There is one for sure! |
May 3rd - All about Jazz's review of the Arkestra's performance at the Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia Victor L. Schermer, from All about Jazz, one of the most (if not the most) important websites about jazz, writes a great review of this recent performance. Worth of reading at this link |