Sun Ra & His Arkestra

Jazz in Silhouette [VINYL]

Label: Groove Merchant Country: USA

"Released on Ra's own Saturn label in 1958 and originally only available at gigs, until its re-release on Impulse in 1975. For its unique ability to look both forward and backward at the same time, Silhouette is one Sun Ra's finest of the period. Ra is able to revisit swing and be-bop while somehow still managing to stay at the forefront of jazz... perhaps Sun Ra's music really did come from his own experiences in outer space as he often claimed. Outstanding performances by tenor saxophonist John Gilmore, often called 'Sun Ra's Johnny Hodges', particularly on 'Blues At Midnight'. John Gilmore was one of the longest standing members of the Arkestra. Special mention is also due to trumpeter Herbert Dotson who can be heard on this early version of 'Enlightenment', one of Ra's greatest pieces, co-writtten with Dotson. Its theme was often chanted by Sun Ra & members of the Arkestra as they ran down through the theatre at the end of their sets. Also featuring standout track 'Ancient Aiethopia', which alone makes this album an important entry in Sun Ra's voluminous discography."