Sun Ra’s 1966 Saturn label release, When Angels Speak Of Love Sun Ra, stands as an exceptionally rare and avant-garde jewel in the world of jazz. Pressed in an incredibly limited run of approximately 150 copies, this album was initially a treasure sought after through mail order and at Sun Ra’s enigmatic live performances. Recorded during the experimental 1963 sessions at New York’s Choreographer’s Workshop, it captures the Sun Ra Arkestra at a pivotal moment of sonic exploration. The warehouse-like acoustics of the rehearsal space lend an ethereal, otherworldly dimension to the music, further enhanced by Tommy Hunter’s pioneering use of tape reverb.
This album is a masterclass in Sun Ra’s signature “controlled chaos,” a deliberate rejection of simplistic “free jazz” labels, yet a full embrace of liberation through meticulously structured improvisation. Tracks such as ‘Next Stop Mars’, a sprawling and immersive 18-minute journey in its mono incarnation, showcase the audacious talents of Marshall Allen and John Gilmore. Their horn work pushes boundaries, venturing into thrillingly uncharted territories. Sun Ra’s piano playing, while anchored in tonal centers, is punctuated by bursts of thunderous rumbling, constructing a dense and richly textured cosmic soundscape. Drawing subtle yet undeniable influences from contemporaries like John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman, When Angels Speak of Love firmly resides within the avant-garde jazz movement of the 1960s, all while radiating Sun Ra’s unmistakable and eccentric sonic signature.
Now reissued on vinyl, When Angels Speak of Love Sun Ra offers a renewed invitation to listeners. Step into the pre-psychedelic, cosmic atmosphere meticulously crafted by Sun Ra and his Arkestra over half a century ago and experience a truly unique moment in jazz history.
PERSONNEL:
Sun Ra – (piano, clavioline, gong)
Walter Miller – (trumpet)
Marshall Allen – ((oboe, alto sax, percussion)
Danny Davis – (alto sax)
John Gilmore – (tenor sax)
Pat Patrick – (baritone sax)
Ronnie Boykins – (bass)
Clifford Jarvis – (drums)
Thomas “Bugs” Hunter – (percussion)
TRACKS:
A1. Celestial Fantasy ……. 5:50
A2. The Idea Of It All ……. 7:30
A3. Ecstasy Of Being …….
B1. When Angels Speak Of Love ……. 4:32
B2. Next Stop Mars ……. 17:55
