2nd Chance: Sun Ra - Dance of Innocent Passion (1981)

Dance of Innocent Passion was recorded at the Squat Theater in New York in 1980. The title cut is another one of those gloriously uplifting tunes that Sun Ra builds from the simplest of parts, and features a soaring tenor solo from John Gilmore. "Omnisonicism" features a creepy theremin-like synth sound and could be put to good use on Halloween. "Intensity" is just a series of solo features, and the album ends with "Cosmo-Intensity," a battle between Richard Williams' bass and Ra's synth. After starting very strong, Dance of Innocent Passion loses a bit of momentum, but should still please fans. The lack of availability of many of these Saturn titles places them mostly in the province of collectors anyway.

AMG review by Sean Westergaard

Dance of Innocent Passion

331. [260]  Sun Ra

Dance of Innocent Passion

Sun Ra (org, syn); Walter Miller (tp); Michael Ray (tp); Ronnie Brown (tp); Vincent Chancey (Fr hn); Ray Draper (tuba); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob, perc); John Gilmore (ts, timb); Danny Ray Thompson (bars, fl, perc); James Jacson (bsn, fl, Inf-d); Skeeter McFarland (eg); Taylor Richardson (eg); Richard "Radu" Williams (b); Harry Wilson (vib); Damon Choice (vib); Luqman Ali (d); Samarai Celestial [Eric Walker] (d); Atakatune (cga, perc).

Squat Theatre, NYC, 1980

Intensity (Ra)
Cosmo Energy (Ra)
Dance of Innocent Passion (Ra)
Omnisonicism (Ra)

Saturn Sun Ra 1981, Dance of Innocent Passion, was released in 1981.  Location and date courtesy of Michael Shore.  Personnel derived from Stahl's discography, with some changes.  Ray Draper was identified by Shore, as was Samarai Celestial on drums (Stahl has Reg McDonald instead).  Tommy Hunter says that Ray Draper worked with the Arkestra for about a year (Craig Haynes says that Draper was a regular at the Squat but did not tour with the band) and that Samarai was the main drummer around this time; Samarai confirmed his presence here.  Michael Shore recalls that on another occasion the brass section consisted of Michael Ray (tp); Al Evans (flg); Ray Draper (tuba) … and Bill Davis (tuba).  ct believes that the trumpet soloist on "Dance of Innocent Passion" is neither Ray nor Miller, and that the same trumpeter is present on the Brixton Fridge tape from November 1985; most likely this was Ronnie Brown.

from Campbell / Trent  The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.

Sun Ra and his Arkestra
Dance of Innocent Passion

Saturn Sun Ra 1981 - LP

A1  Dance of Innocent Passion   12:15
A2  Omnisonicism   6:28
B1  Intensity   6:17
B2  Cosmo-Energy   19:04

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Mega

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Mega

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I absolutely love this album.  Thanks to Peaches and Black for requesting the 2nd Chance thereby giving me a chance to spend some more time with it!