Jazz Archives

On Jupiter is a great album recorded in 1979, about a year after Lanquidity. After easing in with the fairly brief title cut, a fairly mellow affair featuring June Tyson on vocals, listeners are treated to the all-out disco-funk of "U.F.O." Anchored by a monster bassline courtesy of Steve Clarke, this tune has fun ensemble vocals and great solos on guitar and tenor sax. This is as funky as Sun Ra ever got and really must be heard to be believed. Side two consists of "Seductive Fantasy," a lovely piece composed on top of a three-note bass ostinato that features lots of great piano from Ra and some interesting guitar sounds from either Skeeter McFarland or Taylor Richardson. John Gilmore gets plenty of room on this track as well and Luqman Ali's drumming is superb. This album is well worth picking up, but being one of those Saturn rarities makes it pretty difficult to do so.

:::Review by Sean Westergaard:::

Sun Ra - On Jupiter (1979)

1. On Jupiter 4:01
2. UFO 8:35
3. Seductive Fantasy 17:09

Credits
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Oboe – Marshall Allen
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Percussion – Danny Ray Thompson
Artwork By – Art Yard
Baritone Saxophone – Julian Pressley
Bass – Richard Williams
Bass Clarinet – Eloe Omoe
Bassoon, Flute, Percussion, Drums [Ancient Egyptian Infinity Lightning Drums] – James Jacson
Cello – Unknown Artist
Drums – Reg McDonald, Samarai Celestial
Drums, Vocals – Luqman Ali
Electric Bass – Steve Clarke
Electric Guitar – Skeeter McFarland, Taylor Richardson
Percussion – Atakatune
Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Vocals, Composed By, Arranged By – Sun Ra
Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, Vocals – John Gilmore
Trumpet – Eddie Gale
Trumpet, Vocals – Michael Ray
Violin – Unknown Artist
Vocals – June Tyson