. Adventure-Equation .: New ESP Promotional Videos featuring Sun Ra and his Arkestra

Thursday, December 8, 2011

New ESP Promotional Videos featuring Sun Ra and his Arkestra

In addition to producing The Eternal Myth Revealed Vol. 1, Michael D. Anderson has been working at ESP putting together several new projects. One of these projects is a 4 CD Pharoah Sanders collection focusing on his early years, 1964 - 1965. As you may know, Pharoah got his start in the Arkestra in 1964, taking John Gilmore's tenor position while John performed with Art Blakey. ESP and Michael put together a couple of long video segments featuring edited music samples from the new release.

Here are two promotional videos showcasing The Eternal Myth Revealed.

Pt. 1 examines Sun Ra’s 1920’s Blues Vocal and 1930’s Big Band influences, his first recordings in 1946 as a piano sideman, his arrangements and compositions, Sun Ra as a singer in the late 1940’s, his trio in 1949, creating the sound for vocalists Laverne Baker and Joe Williams, coaching The Hambone Kids in 1952 and the late 1940’s Afro-Cuban influence of band leader Perez Prado and other rare facts and musically unheard inclusions.

Pt. 2 examines the Mary Lou Williams influence, his solo piano recordings recorded in his apartment, the R&B Doo Wop influence of the Jazz vocal group The Ink Spots, Sun Ra coaching his R&B Doo Wop group The Nu-Sounds, the Sun Ra Bebop Band live at Bud Land in 1956, a rare live performance at the Pershing Ballroom featuring Pat Patrick-baritone sax, Gene Ammons-tenor sax, J.J. Johnson-trombone, Sun Ra-piano, Ronnie Boykins-bass and Robert Barry-drums, a feature on tenor saxophonist John Gilmore from a 1958 Bud Land performance, Sun Ra and the band playing the pop tune “Tequila” and closing with vocalist Hattie Randolph and the 3 takes of “Round Midnight” from the 1959 Sound Sun Pleasure album.

These two videos promoting the new Pharoah Sanders collection also feature Sun Ra and the Arkestra. The music is from the Judson Hall performances of December 30, 31, 1964.