a r t i s t : Sun Ra
t i t l e : Strange Strings
d a t e : 2007
l a b e l : Atavistic
g e n r e : Jazz
r l s. d a t e : Sep/2007
t r a c k s : 04
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 63,6 MB
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Personnel: Sun Ra: electric piano, lightning drum, tympani,
squeaky door, strings; Marshall Allen: oboe, alto saxophone,
strings; John Gilmore: tenor saxophone, strings; Danny Davis:
flute, alto saxophone, strings; Pat Patrick: flute, baritone
saxophone, strings; Robert Cummings: bass clarinet, strings;
Ali Hassan: trombone, strings; Ronnie Boykins: bass viol;
Clifford Jarvis: tympani, percussion; James Jacson: log drums,
strings; Carl Nimrod: strings; Art Jenkins: space voice,
strings.
Emblematic of its title, this is one of the most unusual
albums in the vast discography of visionary bandleader Sun Ra.
In league with such classics as Heliocentric Worlds (ESP,
1965), The Magic City (Evidence, 1965) and Atlantis (Evidence,
1967), this obscure session focuses on similarly intense
long-form improvisations. Originally recorded in 1966, Strange
Strings is the culmination of Ra's most otherworldly
experiments.
Pre-dating the comprovisations of Butch Morris and the game
pieces of John Zorn, this is a classic example of Ra's
conduction methods. With no rehearsal beforehand, (a study in
ignorance, Ra told his musicians) the results are surprisingly
structured and spaciously uncluttered.
The only Sun Ra album of its kind, the title track and Strange
Strange feature the entire Arkestra playing stringed
instruments; ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, kotos, koras and
more. In addition to the array of exotic strings, the ensemble
features Art Jenkins uttering reverb-drenched mutterings, a
huge sheet of tempered metal used as percussion, and a heady
dose of intermittent reverb infiltrating everything.
Worlds Approaching opens the session dramatically; thundering
tympani announcing an ominous, droning bowed bass ostinato,
unleashing a slew of acerbic solos from Ra's front line of
horn men, with Marshall Allen's fervent oboe heading the
charge. Reverb, distortion and echo oscillate randomly
throughout the piece, adding a truly surreal quality. Typical
of this vintage, the lo-fi recording quality elicits a folksy,
music verite ambience.
Strange Strings and Strange Strange reverberate with dissonant
texture and percussive clatter; the Arkestra eschews horns
entirely, using the thrift store strings Ra acquired for them
instead. Far less accessible than the opening tune, there is
still a definite sense of episodic logic to these pieces.
Similar instrumental groupings materialize with regularity,
spurring on subtle shifts in sound. Punctuated by Jarvis'
explosive percussion tirades, Ra's directorial hand in the
proceedings is obvious.
Previously unissued, Door Squeak was recorded a year later. As
the title suggests, it features Sun Ra playing a door with a
squeaky hinge, accompanied by members of the Arkestra playing
string instruments. Quieter, but similar to the previous cuts,
it exudes a sparse alien sound-scape with Ra's hinge sounding
uncannily Moog-like as it descends in pitch.
An anomaly even in the wildly unconventional discography of
Sun Ra, this is a revealing listen for those interested in the
furthest reaches of experimental music. For those unafraid to
take the trip, Strange Strings will definitely take you places
you have never been.
--Troy Collins
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01-worlds approaching [10:17]
02-strings strange [12:48]
03-strange strange [20:24]
04-door squeak [10:29]
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53:58 min