Unity (Sun Ra album) explained

Unity
Type:	Live album
Artist:	Sun Ra Arkestra
Cover:	Unity (Sun Ra album).jpg
Released:	1978
Recorded:	October 24 & 28, 1977 Storyville, NYC
Genre:	Free jazz
Label:	Horo HDP 19–20
Producer:	Aldo Sinesio
Chronology:	Sun Ra
Prev Title:	Taking a Chance on Chances
Prev Year:	1977
Next Title:	Piano Recital - Teatro La Fenice, Venezia
Next Year:	1977

Unity is a live double album by jazz composer, bandleader and keyboardist Sun Ra and his Arkestra recorded in 1977 and originally released on the Italian Horo label.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4½ stars naming it "The Arkestra's best live album. Loaded with standards. Incredible musicianship".^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Sun Ra except as indicated

Side One:

1. "Yesterdays" (Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach) – 5:39
2. "Lightnin'" (Duke Ellington) – 2:37
3. "How Am I To Know?" (Jack King, Dorothy Parker) – 9:33
4. "Lights" – 5:42

Side Two:

1. "Yeah Man" (Fletcher Henderson) – 3:01
2. "King Porter Stomp" (Jelly Roll Morton) – 4:04
3. "Images" – 10:31
4. "Penthouse Serenade" (Val Burton, Will Jason) – 4:10

Side Three:

1. "Lady Bird/Half Nelson" (Tadd Dameron/Miles Davis) – 8:00
2. "Halloween" – 6:02
3. "My Favorite Things" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) – 6:00

Side Four:

1. "The Satellites" – 7:30
2. "Rose Room" (Art Hickman, Harry Williams) – 9:37
3. "Enlightment" (Hobart Dotson, Sun Ra) – 2:06

Personnel

• • Sun Ra – organ, Rocksichord Ahmed Abdullah, Michael Ray – trumpet
• Akh Tal Ebah – trumpet, vocals
• Craig Harris, Charles Stephens – trombone
• Vincent Chancey – French horn
• Emmett McDonald – bass horn
• Marshall Allen – alto saxophone, oboe, flute
• Danny Davis – alto saxophone, flute
• John Gilmore – tenor saxophone, clarinet, percussion
• Danny Ray Thompson – baritone saxophone, flute
• Eloe Omoe – bass clarinet, flute
• James Jacson – flute, bassoon, percussion
• Richard Williams – bass
• Luqman Ali, Thomas Hunter – drums
• Atakatune, Eddie Thomas – percussion
• June Tyson – vocals

Notes and References

1. http://www.the-temple.net/sunradisco/detail.php?parametro=89 Sun Ra discography
2. Nastos, M. G., Allmusic Review accessed July 4, 2014