Sun Ra

[Lazaro Vega]

The truth is Sun Ra had a book of “hits.” That is, if you know Sun Ra’s music, you’re probably familiar with “Saturn,” “Enlightenment,” “Velvet,” “Rocket Number Nine Take Off For the Planet Venus” and “We Travel The Spaceways.” These staples of his marathon live performances, Ra’s music was, as he said, concerned with “the potential future, which I call the alter destiny, realizing that earth is getting over into what you might call different isolated armed camps, and if people don’t get something in common quick, well, they’re not going to have anything at all.” So, to Ra, “Musicians really represent the harmony department of the universe.”

Right on. Hear Sun Ra’s music on Jazz From Blue Lake here: www.bluelake.org/ondemand