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The Sun Ra Arkestra in concert

Concert highlights from the Sun Ra Arkestra, recorded live at We Out Here festival 2023, plus vocalist Melanie Charles鈥檚 inspirations.

Kevin Le Gendre presents concert highlights from free jazz icons the Sun Ra Arkestra. Founded by pioneering Afrofuturist keys player and composer Sun Ra in the 1950s, the Arkestra are renowned for their freewheeling live shows and glittering, space-themed costumes, which went down a storm with the We Out Here crowd.

Later on, we hear an exclusive interview with two long-time Arkestra members, saxophonist and conductor Knoel Scott and trumpeter Michael Ray, who share some of Sun Ra鈥檚 philosophies on music, along with stories of marathon Arkestra rehearsals fuelled by 鈥渕oon stew鈥 and the time Knoel discovered he could control the weather with his saxophone.

Also in the show, dynamic Brooklyn-born vocalist and flautist Melanie Charles shares some of the music that inspires her, by Black female pioneers in jazz. Known for her genre-blending reworks of classics by Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Betty Carter, Melanie is on a mission to 鈥淢ake Jazz Trill Again鈥 鈥 meaning she wants jazz to be for the streets, for the people and anti-institutional.

Produced by Thomas Rees for Somethin鈥 Else

1 hour, 29 minutes

Last on

Sat 3 Feb 2024 17:00

Music Played

  • Javier Nero

    The Blues Reincarnated (feat. Warren Wolf)

  • Batavia Collective

    Senopati Shuffle

  • The Sun Ra Arkestra

    Care Free (Live at We Out Here Festival)

  • Earth, Wind & Fire

    Runnin'

  • Nite Bjuti

    Mood (Liberation Walk)

  • The Sun Ra Arkestra

    Space Is The Place (Live at We Out Here Festival)

  • Melanie Charles

    Jazz (Ain't Nothing But Soul) - Reimagined

  • Sarah Vauhg

    Detour Ahead (Live at the London House)

  • Aretha Franklin

    Moody's Mood

  • Pharoah Sanders

    The Creator Has A Master Plan

  • Orrin Evans

    I Have The Feeling I've Been Here Before

Broadcasts

  • Sat 2 Sep 2023 17:00
  • Sat 3 Feb 2024 17:00