Sun Ra and the Blues

 

I like what Jason Weiss had to say about Sun Ra and Blue Delight: "What emerges time and again is 1001 ways of reading the blues" ("Sun Ra: The Living Future," Village Voice, 1989-07-04): a trait Ra shares with Duke Ellington.

Playlist, Week of 2026-01-04

The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 is one of my favorite Sun Ra records, not least because it's almost impenetrable... it really eludes full understanding, but not in a negative way... I keep coming back to it... as Rodger Coleman says in Sun Ra Sundays, "As many times as I've listened to this record, it always sounds fresh, revealing deeper insights with each listen" (p. 64)... maybe it's the bass marimba... Anyway, happy new year to everyone, whoever you are! Here's to another year hopefully filled with wonderful listening and reading... This year I am continuing my dives into "Dark Star," Duke Ellington, and Sun Ra, and I've got my eye (ear?) on more Charles Mingus and Anthony Braxton as well... 

Playlist 2026-01-05:

*George Adams: Sound Suggestions (side 1)
*[Ahmed]: Sama'a [Audition]
*B-52s: Bouncing off the Satellites
*B-52s: Cosmic Thing
*Anthony Braxton Trio: 1974-12-08 Toronto (CDR) (disc 2) track 2
*Anthony Braxton: Trillium X (discs 1, 2)
*Clash: London Calling (sides 1, 2, 3, 4)
*Patsy Cline: Imagine That: The Lost Recordings 1954-1963 (disc 1)
*Rodger Coleman: Journey to Brno (cassette) (sides A, B)
*Deerhoof: Miracle-Level (side 1)
*Bob Dylan/Various artists: Theme Time Radio Hour S01 E50 "Spring Cleaning Pt. 2"
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol. 12 (disc 1)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: A Drum Is a Woman (side 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Reprise Studio Recordings (disc 5)
*Grateful Dead: Sunshine Daydream (Veneta, Oregon 8/27/72) (disc 3) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1972-09-10 Hollywood (CDR) (disc 3) "Dark Star"
*Grateful Dead: 1972-09-16 Boston (CDR) "Dark Star"
*Guided By Voices: Universe Room
*Guided By Voices: Thick Rich and Delicious
*Tim Harding/OJ Hunter/Fred McGann/Sam Byrd: 2025-11-14 RVA (CDR)
*François Houle/Kate Gentile/Alexander Hawkins: Fatrasies
*Bobby Hutcherson: Dialogue
*Clifford Jordan/John Gilmore: Blowing in from Chicago
*Mastodon: The Hunter
*Charles Mingus and His Jazz Groups: Mingus Dynasty (side 1)
*Ozric Tentacles: Strangeitude (disc 1)
*Sparks: Angst in My Pants (sides 1, 2)
*Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Supersonic Jazz (21st Century Expanded Ed.) (side 2)
*Sun Ra: The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1
*Sun Ra: Space Is the Place (Blue Thumb) (side 1)
*Sun Ra: Disco 3000 (Complete Milan Concert 1978) (disc 2)
*Sun Ra: Haverford College 1980 Solo Piano (side 2)
*Sun Ra: Hidden Fire (sides 3, 4)
*UYA: 1994-05-22/06-05 Right with Right (wav)
*Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life (disc 1)

Reading List, Week of 2026-01-04

Vineland: best the third time around...

Reading List 2026-01-05:

*Erikson, Steven. No Life Forsaken (started)
*Herriman, George. Krazy and Ignatz: Sure as Moons Is Cheeses: The Komplete Kat Komics, Vol. 6: 1921 (started)
*Shakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew (Arden 2nd series, ed. Brian Morris) (reread/started)
*Erikson, Steven. The God Is Not Willing (reread/started/finished)
*Beats and Threads: Drumming Legend and Fashion Icon, Ringo Starr (ed. Gary Astridge) (finished)
*Herriman, George. Krazy and Ignatz: Pilgrims on the Road to Nowhere: The Komplete Kat Komics, Vol. 5: 1920 (finished)
*Pynchon, Thomas. Vineland (reread/finished)
*Bernard, Bruce. Century (in progress)