SUN RA — Purple Night (review)

SUN RA — Purple Night album cover Album · 1990 · Progressive Big Band Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
I was always interested to listen one of Sun Ra releases on major label, there are a very few of such recorded at all (as much as I remember, "Purple Night" and previous album "Blue Delight" were recorded for A&M both,nothing else comes to mind).

So - here it is,the collection of hard-bop standards and quite relaxed originals.Differently from many of Ra home-made releases sound quality and mix are really good both, and it's a serious plus of this album. From other side main minus is (I believe you expect what it is)quite polished music, very different from his works coming from 60s or 70s. OK, it is not only label's fault - Ra albums coming from 80s are mostly melodic and relaxed, rawness and wild experimentation both have gone more than decade ago.

Still for fans of "cosmic Ra" this album contains one pleasant surprise - 19+ minutes long "Of Invisible Them",not too raw or wild, but enough psychedelic and spacey. In all, album sounds enough competent (especially if you don't compare it with Ra earlier works). From big team of collaborated musicians I would like to notice Don Cherry trumpet,filling all album's space and really great job of former Monk sideman John Ore on bass.

Far not one between Ra best albums, but quite competent and accessible work without openly fillers.Good as entrance to Ra legacy - not too wild,well balanced but not too "normal" at the same time.
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