Sun Ra - Jazz in Silhouette (1959)

Throughout their mid-to-late-'50s stay in Chicago, Sun Ra (piano) and his Arkestra established themselves as formidable purveyors of a new strain or sub-genre of jazz. Having evolved from elaborate reworkings of familiar standards, Jazz in Silhouette (1959) presents a collection of originals, building upon Ra's abilities as a consummate multi-tasker -- writing, arranging, scoring parts for his band, in addition to performing. He stretches the boundaries of the music to suit the Arkestra, simultaneously progressing his distinct sound. Seminal readings of the quick and complex "Saturn" and "Velvet" are offered with unmatchable dexterity and precision. The latter title comes off like a confused version of "Jeepers Creepers" as Hobart Dotson (trumpet) prominently displays his unquestionable tonality. "Ancient Aiethopia" is one of the more involved works, both in terms of length -- running over nine minutes -- and the Arkestra's capacity for Ra's compositions. "Blues at Midnight" is another expansive (nearly 12 minutes) outing that, by contrast, is for the soloists rather than full ensemble. John Gilmore (tenor sax), Ronnie Boykins (bass), Pat Patrick (baritone sax), and Marshall Allen (alto sax) all shine behind William Cochran's (drums) solid contributions. Equally significant is the running dialogue Ra maintains during other musicians' leads, directing the ebb and flow with an uncanny fusion of melody and rhythm. Undoubtedly, this is a factor in the freshness the material retains. It is also a prime example of Ra and company in a transitional phase, prior to their full-fledged explorations into the avant-garde.

AMG Review by Lindsay Planer

Thanks to I-) for sharing several web pics!

52. [37]  Sun Ra and his Arkestra

Le Sun Ra (celeste -1, gong -3, p); Hobart Dotson (tp mouthpiece -3, tp); Bo Bailey [Larry Pickens] (tb -2); James Spaulding (as, fl, perc); Marshall  Allen (as mouthpiece -3, as, fl, perc); John Gilmore (ts, perc, voc); Pat Patrick (bars, fl, perc); Charles Davis (bars, perc); Ronnie Boykins (b, voc); William Cochran (d).

Studio recording, Chicago, late 1958

Hours After (Turner) -2
Horoscope (Ra) -2
Images (Ra)
Blues at Midnight (Ra) -1
Enlightenment (Dotson) -2
Saturn (Ra)
Velvet (Ra) -2
Ancient Aeithopia (Ra) -3 [JG, RB voc]

Jazz in Silhouette was originally issued in early 1959 on Saturn K7OP3590/K7OP3591, identified by matrix numbers only.  Thanks to doo-wop discographer Robert Ferlingere for a tutorial on the mysteries of the RCA Victor matrix number system (Saturns were pressed by RCA's Chicago plant during this period).  The prefix K7OP (not K70P as in the first edition) indicates a 1959 release, not late 1958 as previously stated.

According to Otto Flückiger, the LP originally had a silk-screened cover with an abstract design and the title (this can be seen in Geerken and Hefele's book).  The album was later given the serial number LP 5786 and provided with a sci-fi cover of half-naked women teleporting themselves over one of the moons of Saturn.  (Compare the cover of Esquivel's "Other Voices, Other Worlds," released on RCA Victor in 1958.)

The original Side A (matrix K7OP3590) consisted of "Hours After" through "Blues at Midnight" and Side B (matrix K7OP3591) of "Enlightenment" through "Ancient Aiethopia"; on all later issues, the sides are reversed.  In 1967, this LP was given the catalog number 205.  All tracks were reissued in 1974 on Impulse ASD 9265 (Impulse faded the theme statement at the end of "Blues at Midnight") and in 1992 on Evidence 22012 [CD].  Although the session was recorded in stereo, all issues except the Evidence CD are in mono!  "Enlightenment" also appeared in 1970 on Saturn SR 512, Sound Sun Pleasure!! in a different stereo mix of the same take (thanks to Mike Fitzgerald for discovering this) and was reissued in that form in 1992 on Evidence 22014 [CD].  "Enlightenment," in the mix that was included on Jazz in Silhouette, was also reissued in a 1997 Sun Ra sampler on Japanese Paddle Wheel KICJ 315, Sun Ra Came Down to the Earth.

The 1961 Saturn press release mentions "Saturn" and "Velvet" as appearing on singles, and it seems plausible that those two titles from this session were also released as a single; in fact, the version of "Saturn" from this album was included in a set of master tapes of singles by Alton Abraham.  A pressing still needs to be located, however.

 

 

Nate Pryor (who was supposed to be on this session but arrived too late) recalls that the studio was located off the Outer Drive, somewhere near Grand Avenue.  Alton Abraham has said that RCA Victor Studios and a studio with a name like "Balladine" were used for Saturn sessions.  Bill Fielder says Bo Bailey was on this session, not Julian Priester as stated on the Impulse issue.  (The incorrect listing could have come about because Bo Bailey "wasn't straight with the union," as Nate Pryor says.)  Thanks to Allan Chase for recognizing the role of the mouthpieces in "Ancient Aiethopia."  In the first edition of this discography, Sunny was credited with playing his Wurlitzer electric piano on the introduction to "Ancient Aiethopia," but more careful listening suggests that he was emulating his Wurlitzer style on a regular piano!  The wordless vocal during this same piece includes John Gilmore and Ronnie Boykins, but the most prominent voice belongs to another Arkestra member.

Sun Ra copyrighted a suite of compositions from this LP under the title "Images" on February 7, 1959.  "Enlightment" [sic] followed on February 13.  It consisted of "Enlightenment" and "You Never Told Me That You Care," which both had music by Hobart Dotson and words by Sun Ra (James Wolf).

from Campbell/Trent The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

Jazz in Silhouette

Evidence ECD 22012-2

1. Enlightenment   5:06
2. Saturn   3:41
3. Velvet   3:21
4. Ancient Aiethopia   9:09
5. Hours After   3:46
6. Horoscope   3:47
7. Images   3:53
8. Blues At Midnight   11:57

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Collection of Artwork from Various Releases

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