Updated: Sun Ra on Late Night TV (1978, 1989)

Thanks to our friend, Zyxirion, we have a new, extended video of the SNL performance!

269. [220]  Sun Ra and his Jazz from Another Planet Arkestra

Sun Ra (syn, org, voc); Michael Ray (tp, flg); Tony Bethel (tb); poss. Craig Harris (tb); Vincent Chancey (Fr hn); Marshall Allen (as, fl); Danny Davis (as, fl); John Gilmore (ts, cga); Eloe Omoe (bcl); James Jacson (bsn, perc); Danny Ray Thompson (bars); Luqman Ali (d); unidentified (cga); prob. Cheryl Banks (dance); prob. Judith Holton [Wisteria el Moondew] (dance); prob. Mickey Davidson (dance).
from The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

Saturday Night Live, NBC-TV, NYC,

May 21, 1978

I'm not so great with matching faces with names but there's no mistaking June Tyson (voc, dance).

V78.5.21. Saturday Night Live
NBC TV show, live from New York City. 5/21/78. 5 min. TV Broadcast, tinny sound. [Iannapollo]
Described by Sun Ra as 6 pieces in 6 minutes, but what is preserved is:
Space is the Place (Ra)
The Sound Mirror (Ra)
Watusa (Ra)

Sun Ra and his Jazz from Another Planet Arkestra: unidentified-tp, flg; Tony Bethel-tb; poss. Craig Harris-tb; Vincent Chancey-Frh; Marshall Allen-as, fl; Danny Davis-as, fl; John Gilmore-ts, cga; Eloe Omoe-bcl; James Jacson-bsn, perc; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Ra-syn, org, voc; Luqman Ali-d; unidentified-cga; prob. Cheryl Banks-dance; prob. Judith Holton (Wisteria el Moondew)-dance; prob. Mickey Davidson-dance. [Tunes Trent; personnel rlc from still photo in Down Beat, 9/93, p. 27; I thought the trumpeter was Eddie Gale, but he says he wasn't there.]
Entry from Moudry's Sun Ra Tapeography

Download

Again, MANY THANKS to Marc E of Philadelphia for sharing his tape with us. 


Here are two more videos from David Sanborn's eclectic and regrettably short-lived tv show, 
Night Music.

644. [422]  Sun Ra Arkestra
 Night Music (TV Show)


Sun Ra (p, Yamaha DX7); Ahmed Abdullah (tp); Tyrone Hill (tb); Marshall Allen (as, fl, perc); John Gilmore (ts, timb); James Jacson (fl, bsn, Inf-d); John Ore (b); Buster Smith (d); Elson Nascimento (surdo grande); June Tyson (voc, vln); Dave Sanborn (as -1); Hiram Bullock (eg -1); Omar Hakim (d -1); Don Alias (perc -1); Syd Straw (voc, perc -1); The Rev. Al Green (perc -1).

NBC Studios, NYC, December 10, 1989

Interview with Ra by Dave Sanborn

Retrospect (Ra)

Face the Music (Ra) [ens voc]

Space Is The Place (Ra) [ens voc; inc] -1

from The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

Retrospect




Face The Music / Space Is The Place