Sun Ra, born Herman Poole Blount on May 22, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama, was a pioneering force in the genre of jazz and a figure shrouded in cosmic mythology. He adopted his stage name in the 1950s to reflect his deep connection with the ancient Egyptian sun god and his personal philosophy; he often claimed he was of the "Angel Race" and not from Earth, but from Saturn. An avant-garde composer, pianist, poet, and bandleader, Sun Ra's career spanned much of the 20th century, with his music ranging from keyboard solos to full orchestral compositions that often touched on spiritual and space-themed motifs.

The leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra, a fluid ensemble that saw many great jazz musicians pass through its ranks, Sun Ra pushed the boundaries of jazz through experimentation with electronic instruments and pioneering the Afrofuturism movement, which melded science fiction, cosmic philosophy, and African cultural themes. His discography is vast and eclectic, with hundreds of albums to his name, including live recordings, studio sessions, and various collaborations that attest to his inexhaustible creativity. Even after his death on May 30, 1993, the influence of Sun Ra's cosmic jazz continues to resonate, with posthumous releases and reissues like "Lanquidity (Definitive Edition)" and "Haverford College, Jan. 25th, 1980 (Solo Rhodes Piano)" introducing new generations to his otherworldly soundscape.

Genres

Afrofuturism

Avant-garde Jazz

Experimental

Free Jazz

Jazz

Spiritual Jazz

Related Artists

John Coltrane

Miles Davis

Herbie Hancock

Ornette Coleman

Alice Coltrane

Don Cherry

Pharoah Sanders

Thelonious Monk

Archie Shepp

Albert Ayler

Cecil Taylor

Keith Jarrett

Latest Release

Big John's Special (Live at the Left Bank, July 23, 1978)

Sun Ra

Single - Released November 8, 2024