Wednesday, January 12, 2022

The Symbiosis of Sun Ra and John Gilmore

The Ellington song "Stompy Jones" showed up randomly on the Magic Jukebox 2 last night-- a live version from the first night of Sun Ra's Detroit residency in 1980. It's got a typically brilliant sax solo from John Gilmore, but it's also got so much more than that. It's a wonderful demonstration of the symbiotic relationship between Gilmore and Ra. Gilmore, of course, is swinging yet solid: the solid rock of hard-rocking swing. As hard as it is to tear your ears away from Gilmore's solo, try to pay attention to what Ra's doing (on organ)-- he's comping, feeding Gilmore chords and ideas, responding to figures from Gilmore, engaging in a robust dialogue all throughout the solo. It's a conversation, and a heated one at that--a symbiotic coupling of sounds. When Gilmore stops, Ra continues with a brief but outstanding solo, and it's clear he's been inspired by Gilmore's playing. Beauty ensues!

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