Mayan Temples (album) explained
| Mayan Temples |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Sun Ra Arkestra |
| Cover: | Mayan Temples album cover.jpg |
| Released: | 1990 |
| Recorded: | July 24 & 25, 1990 |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 79:03 |
| Label: | Black Saint |
| Producer: | Giovanni Bonandrini |
| Chronology: | Sun Ra |
| Prev Title: | Live in London 1990 |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | Pleiades |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
Mayan Temples is an album by the American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Sun Ra, recorded in 1990.[1] [2] Released on the Black Saint label,[3] it was Sun Ra's final studio recording as a leader.
Critical reception
The Omaha World-Herald wrote that the album moves "through swing and be-bop band re-creations, African rhythm workouts and outer-space weirdness."[4]
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "One of the finest Sun Ra recordings from his final years, this effort is particularly recommended due to the many Ra keyboard solos and John Gilmore features... Overall, this is a fine all-around studio set."[5]
Track listing
All compositions by Sun Ra except as indicated
- "Dance of the Language Barrier" – 3:58
- "Bygone" – 5:15
- "Disciple No. 1" – 4:57
- "Alone Together" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 7:02
- "Prelude to Stargazers" – 5:17
- "Mayan Temples" – 7:40
- "I'll Never Be The Same" (Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck, Frank Signorelli) – 4:57
- "Stardust from Tomorrow" – 3:38
- "El Is a Sound of Joy" – 5:26
- "Time After Time" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) – 4:21
- "Opus in Springtime" – 6:41
- "Theme of the Stargazers" – 14:09
- "Sunset on the Nile" – 5:42
- Recorded at Mondial Sound, Milano, Italy on July 24 & 25, 1990.
Personnel
- Sun Ra – piano, synthesizer
- Michael Ray, Ahmed Abdullah – trumpet, vocals
- Tyrone Hill – trombone
- Marshall Allen – alto saxophone, flute
- Noel Scott – alto saxophone
- John Gilmore – tenor saxophone, timbales
- James Jacson – bassoon, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum
- Ronald Wilson – tenor saxophone
- Carl LeBlanc – electric guitar
- Jothan Callins – bass, electric bass
- Clifford Barbaro, Earl "Buster" Smith – drums
- Ron McBee – congas, percussion
- Jorge Silva – percussion
- Elson Nascimento – surdo, percussion
- June Tyson – vocals
Notes and References
- News: McNally . Owen . The Arkestra's evolution on CD . Hartford Courant . June 24, 1992 . C2.
- News: Booth . Garry . The Sun that never sets . Financial Times . July 25, 1992 . XVIII.
- http://homepage.uab.edu/moudry/disc_d.htm#124. Sun Ra discography
- News: Smith . Will . Fare Varied on Italian-Based Labels . Omaha World-Herald . July 12, 1992 . Entertainment . 11.
- Yanow, S. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r167387|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic Review] accessed July 21, 2010
