Jazz by Sun Ra explained

Jazz By Sun Ra
Type:	studio
Artist:	Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Cover:	JazzBySunRa.jpg
Caption:	Original Transition pressing, 1957
Released:	1957
Recorded:	July 12, 1956
Studio:	Universal Recording Corp. (Chicago)
Genre:	Post-bop, big band
Length:	40:14
Producer:	Tom Wilson
Next Title:	Super-Sonic Jazz
Next Year:	1957

Jazz By Sun Ra (later titled Sun Song) is the debut album by Sun Ra.^[1] The record label for the first pressing says "07-12-56", presumably when it was recorded.^[2] The LP originally appeared on Tom Wilson's short-lived Transition Records. In the mid-1960s it was purchased (along with much of the Transition catalog) by Delmark Records owner Bob Koester, finally being reissued in 1967.

When originally released, it came with an extensive booklet featuring words and photos of Sun Ra and his Arkestra. The LP featured original compositions by Sun Ra along with one by Arkestral bassist Richard Evans. Another composition by Arkestra member Julian Priester has been included in reissues from the session, and additional unreleased tracks (all Ra originals) are known to survive. The single non-Arkestral composition was Possession, by Harry Revel, which had been written for Les Baxter's album Perfume Set to Music; Possession was arranged for the Arkestra by the Texan pianist and composer Prince Shell.

Earlier home recordings by Ra, including one dating from 1948 or 1949, were released with tracks from 1973 on the album Deep Purple.

Track listing

When reissued on Compact Disc in 1991, "Swing a Little Taste" was added. This was originally released on the Transition sampler Jazz in Transition alongside tracks by artists such as Cecil Taylor, Donald Byrd and John Coltrane.

CD version

1. "Brainville" (Sun Ra) 4:29
2. "Call for all Demons" (Sun Ra) 4:30
3. "Transition" (Sun Ra) 3:40
4. "Possession" (Harry Revel) 5:00
5. "Street Named Hell" (Sun Ra) 3:55
6. "Lullaby for Realville" (Richard Evans) 4:40
7. "Future" (Sun Ra) 3:15
8. "Swing a Little Taste" (Sun Ra) 4:25
9. "New Horizons" (Sun Ra) 3:05
10. "Fall off the Log" (Sun Ra) 4:00
11. "Sun Song" (Sun Ra) 3:40

Musicians

Source:^[3]

• Sun Ra - Piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Percussion
• Art Hoyle - Trumpet, Percussion
• Dave Young - Trumpet, Percussion
• Julian Priester - Trombone, Percussion
• James Scales - Alto Sax
• John Gilmore - Tenor sax, Percussion
• Pat Patrick - Baritone Sax, Percussion
• Richard Evans - Bass
• Wilburn Green - Electric Bass, Percussion
• Robert Barry - Drums
• Jim Herndon - Tympani

Recorded Universal Recording, Chicago, July 12, 1956

Pressings

!Year!Format!Region!Label!Title

1957	LP	US	Transition	Jazz By Sun Ra
		SE	Sonet
1967		US	Delmark	Sun Song
1968		UK
1971		FR	Goody
1972		JP	Trio	Jazz By Sun Ra
1990	CD	US	Delmark	Sun Song
1993	Cass
2001	LP
2003	CD	JP	P-Vine
2009	LP	NL	6 Spices, Music & Words
2012	CD	JP	P-Vine
2014		US	Delmark
2015	LP	UK	Poppydisc & Rev-Ola	Jazz By Sun Ra
2016
2019			Not Now Music

External sources

• Complete Sun Ra Discography

Notes and References

1. http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/disc_a.htm#2. Sun Ra Discography Items 1-25
2. http://www.discogs.com/release/517197 Sun Ra – Jazz By Sun Ra
3. Reissue sleeve notes, Delmark