Jazz Archives

The Sun Ra Arkestra looks both forwards and backwards in time on this obscure small label LP. Ten years earlier, one could not have imagined Ra and his men romping through "On the Sunny Side of the Street" or reinventing "Flamingo." However, those versions certainly sound quite original, and there is no mistaking the band for any other orchestra on "Space Fling," "Manhattan Cocktail" and the trademark "Space Is the Place." The music on this album features a version of the Arkestra consisting of six reeds (including John Gilmore and Marshall Allen), three trumpets (including Michael Ray and Eddie Gale), two trombones (with a young Robin Eubanks), the French horn of Vincent Chancey, guitarist Dale Williams, three bassists, four percussionists, singer June Tyson and the leader's keyboards. A stimulating set.

:::Review by Scott Yanow:::

Sun Ra - The Other Side of the Sun (1979)

A1 Space Fling 7:37
A2 Flamingo 4:44
Composed By – Anderson, Grouya
A3 Space Is The Place 9:48
B1 The Sunny Side Of The Street
Composed By – J. McHugh 9:35
B2 Manhattan Cocktail 9:54

Credits
Arranged By – Sun Ra
Bass – Ben "Jereeboo" Henderson, Bob Cunningham, OscarBrown, Jr.
Composed By – Sun Ra (tracks: A1, A3, B2)
French Horn – Vincent Chancey
Guitar – Dale Williams
Percussion – Artaukatune, Eddie Thommus, Luqman Ali, William Goffigan
Photography By [Cover] – Jay Edgerton
Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Percussion, Bells, Vocals – Sun Ra
Producer – Sun Ra
Reeds – Danny Davis, Danny Thompson, Elo Omoe, James Jacson, John Gilmore, Marshall Allen
Trombone – Robin Eubanks, Tony Bethel
Trumpet – Eddie Gale, Michael Ray, Walter Miller
Vocals – June Tyson