Over a century since his arrival on Planet Earth and Sun Ra still ensures through his Arkestra. The legendary jazz composer, bandleader, pianist, poet and philosopher departed in 1993 – but his expansive band continues to perform live, under the helm of 90-plus-year-old alto saxophonist Marshall Allen (pictured). Renowned for their three-hour sets, featuring countless rolling grooves, sing-along chants and atonal blasts of mischievous brass, the Arkestra are keen to point out that they do not perform concerts in the conventional sense; instead, they ‘present a selection of tunes from all black music periods’. This will make for a Sunday evening of intrigue and wonder.
Sun 22 Mar, Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, M1 5WW, Tel: 0161 407 0301, 7.30pm, £25, www.seetickets.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qjiQwD7VCI
- Words:
- Chris Horkan
- Published on:
- Wed 18 Mar 2015
