Sun Ra Arkestra - Points on a Space Age (video)

This film offers rare insight of the Arkestra and examines their current work (in the physical absence of Sun Ra) under the direction of Marshall Allen.

This wonderful video is available for sale at a very reasonable price at various sites online.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy watching it and hope that Marshall et al. are enjoying some profits from its release.

POINTS ON A SPACE AGE, filmed between Spring’06 and Spring ’07, explores the recent activity of the remaining members of the influential Sun Ra Arkestra.

The film examines the work the Arkestra in the physical absence of Sun Ra. After Sun Ra "left the planet" direction of the band was left to his most faithful musician and companion Marshall Allen (a member of the band since to mid 1950's). Since the passing of Ra, the band under the direction of Allen (now age 86) continues to maintain an active touring schedule and continues to recruit younger members into the Sun Ra lifestyle. A lifestyle committed to human development through the disciples of Music and Spirituality.

For director and producer Ephraim Asili, the fascination with the Arkestra began one day during the summer of ‘98 in Philadelphia:

It was a warm, clear, and sunny summer day. The Arkestra was giving a free concert in a park near their collective home/rehearsal space. Then it happened... Clear skies turned grey and a thunderstorm broke out. The audience evaporated. In the midst of all of this I stood in the rain as band members began jumping off of the bandstand, instruments in hand. I thought to myself “That’s it… Time to go”. Just as I began to leave I realized that the band was not running from the rain, they were starting some sort of procession through the park. The members began weaving through the storm and remaining spectators while at the same time playing some of the most beautiful and bizarre music that I had ever heard…
Complete transcript: below.

POINTS ON A SPACE AGE uses an approach as experimental as the band and functions to give those who have already seen the Arkestra an opportunity to experience them yet again, and for those that have not seen them it offers some insight into one of the most influential bands of the 20th Century.

The Arkestra, is an experimental big band formed in the mid 1950's around the teachings of, musician, philosopher, and spiritualist Sun Ra. Sun Ra, according to himself and his disciples believed that he was sent to this planet to prepare human beings for the world for the future, a future centered around space travel, and the human capacity to evolve with ever changing demands of a highly technological world. The members of Ra's band were not only band mates they were also disciples, students, and companions to their Guru bandleader. All band members where required to learn the philosophy of Ra, and many members lived with him as well. It was common for the band to practice of eight hours, only breaking for teachings, and then go out and play gigs. The band continued in this manner for approximately thirty years until Sun Ra "left the planet" in 1993. 

(2009 press release from PRlog)

 

Ephram Asili:

During the summer after graduating from high school I had my first encounter with the Sun Ra Arkestra. It was 1998. I was 18 years old. I had heard of Sun Ra but that was about it. It was a warm, clear, and sunny summer day. The Arkestra was giving a free concert in a park near their collective home/rehearsal space. When I arrived at the concert the first thing that I noticed was the lack of a piano or keyboard (Sun Ra’s instruments).  I soon learned that Sun Ra “left the planet” in 1993. When the band took the stage I was amazed by

1.     The number of musicians.

2.     The wild outfits.

3.     The diversity of age of the players.

4.     The passion contained within the playing.

Then it happened.

 Clear skies turned grey.

A thunderstorm broke out.

The audience evaporated.

      In the midst of all of this I stood in the rain as band members began jumping off of the bandstand, instruments in hand. I thought to myself “That’s it. Time to go”. Just as I began to leave I realized that the band was not running from the rain, they were starting some sort of procession through the park. The members began weaving through the storm and remaining spectators while at the same time playing some of the most beautiful and bizarre music that I had ever heard.

The rain didn’t let up.

The band continued to walk/dance/ play.

I was soaked (no umbrella).

I left the band played.

I returned home wondering if the band was still out there.

Walking/strolling/ playing.

Another year would go by before I got another chance to see the band.  The next concert I saw was another free concert in Philadelphia, this time in Rittenhouse Square. The experience was equally wonderful and I knew then that I had to look into the mysterious Sun Ra and his Arkestra. Years passed and I made it a point to see them play at least once a year, I bought some of their albums (of which there are hundreds), and I became increasingly interested in the philosophical and spiritual teachings of Sun Ra.

Seven years after seeing the band for the first time it occurred to me to make a video with the remaining members of the Arkestra. I was 25 and studying film at Temple University in Philadelphia.  I had access to equipment, loads of inspiration and absolutely no contact with the band at all. I spent weeks figuring out a way to get close to the band with no success. I continued my film studies and began making short films at school. One weekend I picked up a camera and hopped on the subway to go home. When I got situated on the train with my stuff I looked to my left, and guess who is sitting right next to me? Tyrone Hill (long time trombone player from the Arkestra, and a close friend of Sun Ra).

We “got to talking” and he told me that he played on street corners sometimes and that he was on his way to City Hall to play. He noticed my camera and offered to let me tape him playing. I did of course, and that was the beginning of my relationship with the Arkesra. About a week after meeting Tyrone he invited me to shoot at another gig he was playing. It was Marshall Allen’s 83^rd birthday party, and in true Marshall Allen fashion he was playing a concert for everyone else. That night Tyrone introduced me to Marshall and several other Arkestra members. Soon after I began hanging out at the Sun Ra House/Community/Rehearsal space. It was also at that time that we began shooting what eventually became Points on a Space Age.

Unfortunately Tyrone Hill did not live to see the completion of the project. He “left the planet” on March 11, 2007. I finished production shortly after, edited the work with coeditor Dan Kremer, and that was that.

It is worth noting that Tyrone Hill appears throughout the video, and there is actually footage from his memorial service in the video as well. Tyrone’s story as played out in the video can be viewed on the one hand as a metaphor for the Arkestra itself. On the other it can be seen as a metaphor of the great music culture that gave birth to bands like the Arkestra, and visionaries like Sun Ra. Quoting a line from the video “ the final chapter is being written right now”. Points on a Space Age is a glimpse into this final chapter.