Sun Ra - Nothing Is... LP and CD (1966) (Released 1969)

 

Sun Ra and his Arkestra issued only a handful of titles on the groundbreaking indie ESP-Disk' label. Each title respectively contains some of their most expressive musical statements to date. The eight cuts on Nothing Is (1970) were documented during live performances at various New York State colleges in the spring of 1966. Ra (piano/clavioline) leads the band through a series of free improvisations and more melodically structured compositions. "Dancing Shadows" evolves out of a chaotic brass and percussive assault with some extended inspired keyboard runs during the opening. These eventually nestle into a charming upbeat slice of extemporaneous post-bop. Front and center beside Ra are Ali Hassan (trombone), Teddy Nance (trombone), Marshall Allen (alto sax/flute/piccolo/oboe), John Gilmore (tenor sax), Pat Patrick (baritone sax/flute), Robert Cummings (baritone clarinet), James Jacson (flute/log drums), Ronnie Boykins (bass/tuba), Clifford Jarvis (drums), and Carl Nimrod (aka Carl S. Malone/Nimrod Hunt) (sun horn/gong). The leader's solos and accompaniment shimmer with many of the same highly advanced effervescent chord progressions incorporated onto early sides such as "Brainville" or "Transitions." Gilmore, Allen and Patrick playfully blend Eastern-flavored intonations along with Jarvis and a second, albeit uncredited, kit drummer. According to Sun Ra scholars, both Jimmy Johnson, Jr. (drums) and Roger Blank (drums) toured at various times during the mid-'60s with the Arkestra. "Imagination" includes a brief recitation followed by a full-blown band improv. This undulates over a fast-paced choral mantra of "the second stop is Jupiter" -- a chant which had also been worked into the waning moments of "Rocket #9." The slithery charm of "Exotic Forest" -- featuring a hypnotic oboe lead from Allen -- excels in allowing the mostly percussive contingency of the Arkestra to organically support Boykins equally entrancing contributions. The short piano solo "Sun Ra and His Band from Outer Space" segues into the last lengthy side, "Shadow World." Patrick streamlines his opening solo around the sonic swirl of Jarvis and Ra. The saxophonist then emerges with an unaccompanied blow that demonstrates his perfection in the context of spontaneity. Allen follows with a solitary oboe that borders on maniacal before eventually settling into a final free for all from the entire band. Nothing Is concludes with a mostly Ra driven "Theme of the Stargazers" which develops into an early version of the "Outer Spaceways Incorporated" and "Next Stop Mars" chants. Caveat emptor: these sides have turned up on numerous repackagings, many of which have been transcribed from poor-grade vinyl. [The 2005 ESP-Disk' contains three added tracks.]

AMG Review by Lindsay Planer

NuVoid's Sun Ra Sunday Review

122. [108]  Sun Ra and his Arkestra

Nothing Is

(Sun Ra (p, Clavioline); Ali Hassan (tb); Teddy Nance (tb); Marshall Allen (as, fl, picc, ob); John Gilmore (ts, perc); Pat Patrick (bars, fl, perc); Robert Cummings (bcl, perc); James Jacson (fl, log drums); Ronnie Boykins (b, tuba); Clifford Jarvis (d); Roger Blank or Jimmy Johnson (d); Carl Nimrod [Carl S. Malone] (sun horn, gong).

Tour of New York State colleges,
early May 1966

ESP-Disk' 1045, Nothing Is,  was released in 1969.  According to Henry Weld, it was also available on 8-Track tape from ESP in the 1970s.

All tracks were reissued on Base ESPS-1045 (Italy, c. 1981), Boots 2416 (1982), German ZYX ESP 1045 [CD, 1992] and Japanese ESP TKCZ-79126 [CD].  There are two German bootleg reissues: Happy Bird B 90130 from 1983 and Magic Music 30013 [CD, 1990], both using the title Dancing Shadows.  Marco Melaragni points out a French bootleg on ESP Explosive 538.106 (c. 1970).

A bootleg LP reissue of Nothing Is came out in Italy on Get Back GET 1007.

"Dancing Shadows" was also reissued in 1983 on a Saturn anthology LP Just Friends (Saturn XI).

Personnel and date from the ESP jacket.  The second trap drummer (according to Tommy Hunter, the Arkestra often worked with two drummers around this time) is clearly audible but not mentioned in the credits; John Gilmore suggested that it might be Roger Blank or Jimmy Johnson.  According to Patty Waters, the tour included SUNY Buffalo and Syracuse University.

The ESP catalog of 1969 listed a fourth Ra album on ESP 1046.  This never materialized.  According to Bernard Stollman, Ra promised, but did not deliver, a concert recording; no tapes ever came into the possession of the label.
from The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed. Campbell/Trent

This was my first Sun Ra album, given to me by a friend in the early 1990s.  Unfortunately, the LP had been improperly cared for during much of it's existence and therefore contains many pops, clicks, and a skip or two.  I did my best to clean it up and the results are satisfactory but not exactly 'audiophile' quality.  I thought it would be nice to offer, simply for those who prefer LP rips; the original track listing might be a listening experience of interest to many, as well.  I've added additional links for Artwork-only for those who might want to mix things up a bit (or already have the music but without the lovely images).

Nothing Is… (LP)
1. Dancing Shadows   9:49
2. Imagination (incl. Second Stop is Jupiter)   1:52
3. Exotic Forest   9:47
4. Sun Ra and his Band from Outer Space / Shadow World   15:50
5. Theme of the Stargazers / Outer Spaceways Incorporated /
 Next Stop Mars   3:04

FLAC

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320

LP Images

Nothing Is...  (ESP Disk 2005 CD Re-Release)
1.  Sun Ra & His Band From Outer Space   11:18
2.  The Shadow World   4:30
3.  Theme Of The Stargazers   1:49
4.  Outer Spaceways Incorporated   0:32
5.  Next Stop Mars   0:35
6.  Dancing Shadows   9:45
7.  Imagination   0:41
8.  Second Stop Is Jupiter   1:12
9.  Exotic Forest   9:44
10. Velvet [bonus]   7:21
11. Outer Nothingness [bonus]   15:43
12. We Travel The Spaceways [bonus]   1:31

FLAC

or

320

CD Images

***Be sure to check the Comments for other editions of this 20th Century Masterpiece***
THANK YOU, Zyxirion!