Mystery, Mr. Ra (1984) (Video)

 

"I'm very tempted to simply write , 'Hey, this is a Sun Ra tape -- buy it for God's sake!'

Despite the epic scope of Sun Ra's 35-year career, and a depth of mystery that still surround him, Mystery, Mr. Ra is only the second program on videocassette that tries to document the wonder that is Ra.  The other one -- Robert Mugge's A Joyful Noise -- is also a Rhapsody title; Mystery, Mr. Ra compliments it nicely.  Mugge's 1980 film tried to bring you Sun Ra's worldwide view from inside Ra's own head, and the result was consequently more surreal and personal.  Shot in France in 1984, Mystery, Mr. Ra sticks closer to traditional form, turning an interested outsider's eye on Ra as a musician, Bandleader, philosopher, shaman, commune leader, and cosmic messenger.  Frank Cassenti comes up with a sort of extended news report on Ra:  entertaining and informative, adeptly mixing on -- and off-stage footage, interviews, and the subtly dramatic juxtaposition of voice-overs with artful still photos.  That the voice-overs are in French matters not:  were they in English Ra'd be no less mysterious, and meanwhile, Ra of course does speak English -- and his music, of course, speaks universally.

There is rare footage of the orchestra tuning up and rehearsing, plus a rewarding spectrum of excerpts from Ra's Afro-psychedelic circus of a show.  Highlights include that majestic Watusi fanfare Love in Outer Space; tenor sax titan John Gilmore's neo-Coleman Hawkins smoke on the classic Blue Lou; alto-sax alchemist Marshall Allen's free-form torching of the 20's standard Tea for Two; and especially, Nuclear War and 1984.  Ra's frankly funky, at time downright bawdy (as in the Nuclear War reprise) forays into proto-rap/neo gospel social comment.  In the interviews, Ra give forth with his stern -- yet -- whimsical space-age sermonizing, lamenting mankind's plight and his frustration at trying to remedy it, all the while carefully folding reality into myth, history into mystery -- bewitching, bothering and bewildering those who seek such mundanities as simple straight answers..

But the interview segments also contain some stunning bonanzas for Ra fans:  He makes a rare statement on black-and-white race relations as regards his music and philosophy; and for the first time anywhere, in detailing his personal musical history Ra actually mentions not just his well-noted stint with Fletcher Henderson's orchestra in the 40's, but also the names of several well-known blues artists he backed in the 40's and 50's (What blues artists?  You'll have to see the tape!)

Part 1

Finally, Mystery, Mr. Ra contains another first well worth noting:  actual recorded commentary on Ra by another modern jazz master -- Archie Shepp, who speaks in fluent French, while riding in a taxi cab.

For both Ra cultists, and for the curious yet to be initiated, Mystery, Mr. Ra is heartily recommended."

 -- Michael Shore

from the VHS Back Cover

This French documentary will mostly appeal to those already acclimated to the free and avant-garde jazz of Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra. Director Frank Cassenti examines the band both on-stage as well as off. The footage was shot primarily during their participation in the 1984 Parisian Jazz Festival. Although nearing 70 years old, Ra's playing is as funky and unfettered as it has ever been. With age, his recitations and philosophical discourse has also adopted a sage-like quality. Time has not, however, tempered the mix of political and social commentary within his music -- as evidenced by a rare recording of his raucous and ribald "Nuclear War" and "1984" holocaustic proto-raps. Joining Ra (electric piano) are notable and longtime Arkestra founders Marshall Allen (alto sax/flute/percussion), John Gilmore (tenor sax/percussion), Eloe Omoe (alto sax/bass clarinet/contra-alto clarinet/percussion), Danny Thompson (alto sax/bass sax/flute/percussion), James Jacson (bassoon/Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum), as well as June Tyson (vocals). Along with an assortment of additional "floating" personnel, the band is seen and heard performing Arkestra standards such as "Love in Outer Space," "Astro Black," "Discipline 27," as well as a stretched-out and demented take of "Tea for Two" featuring some incendiary blowing, courtesy of Allen. The narration and interview segments are all done in French, which is also true of the subtitles. However, the answers given are usually general enough to allow for a contextual ascertainment of the questions. The sole exception is from an interview with Archie Shepp -- filmed during a Parisian cab ride -- as both the interviewer as well as artist fluidly converse in French. As there are only a handful of home videos featuring Sun Ra and his various Arkestras available, Mystery, Mr. Ra (1984) is a highly recommended find for the adventurous jazz enthusiast.

AMG Review by~ Lindsay Planer

401. [299] Sun Ra Arkestra

Sun Ra (p, org, voc); Ronnie Brown (tp, perc); Haji (tp); Tyrone Hill (tb); Marshall Allen (as, fl, kora, EVI, sticks, whistle); John Gilmore (ts, cl, timb, EVI); Eloe Omoe (as, bcl, cacl, EVI, maracas); Danny Ray Thompson (bars, fl, EVI, bgo); James Jacson (bsn, fl, EVI, Inf-d); James Glass (eg); Rollo Radford (standup eb); Clifford Jarvis (d); Marvin "Boogaloo" Smith (d); poss. Chris Henderson (d); Atakatune (cga); unidentified Cuban (cga, perc); June Tyson (voc, dance); Myriam Broche (dance); Greg Pratt (dance).

Freiburg, West Germany, November 6, 1983

404. [301] Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra
Mystery, Mr. Ra (film)

Same personnel, except Don Mumford may replace Clifford Jarvis (d); Chris Henderson (d) may replace Marvin "Boogaloo" Smith; Wilbur Little (b) replaces Rolo Radford (standup eb).

Paris Jazz Festival, Paris,
November 1983

untitled improvisation [kora]
untitled improvisation [EVIs]
Along Came Ra (Ra)/
Children of the Sun (Ra) [JT, voc; SR, ens voc]
Blue Lou (Sampson) [inc]
Nuclear War (Ra) [SR, JT, ens voc]
1984 (Ra) [SR, JT, ens voc]
Cocktails for Two (Coslow-Johnston)

405. [302] Same personnel, except Rollo Radford (standup eb) is back in place of Wilbur Little (b).
Le New Morning, Paris,

November or December 1983

Love in Outer Space (Ra)
untitled improvisation
[bars, tb, and bcd; p; falsetto ts]
Astro Black (Ra) [JT voc]
Nuclear War (Ra) [SR, ens voc; inc]
untitled improvisation [kora; perc and dance]
Mystery, Mr. Ra (Ra) [SR, JT, ens voc]
Discipline 27 (Ra) [inc]

Mystery, Mr. Ra is a 48-minute documentary, released in 1984, featuring footage from two Paris concerts and interviews with Ra, John Gilmore, and Archie Shepp.  Produced by Hubert Niogret, directed by Frank Cassenti; issued on video in 1993 by Rhapsody Films with sleeve notes by Michael Shore.  Date and tunes rlc. Personnel rlc with help from Danny Ray Thompson; Mumford and Little are mentioned in the film credits.  This was a distinct performance from the Arkestra's March 1983 appearance at Le New Morning.

from The Earthly Recordings of Sun Ra  2nd edition

Part 2

(Unfortunately, after much trial and error, I was not able to upload Part 2 for streaming.  The entire DVD, however is available for downloading here - albeit in a reduced size.)