SUN RA © CHRIS COOPER

The Sun Ra Arkestra

The Lantern, Bristol

‘In the half-between world, dwell they: The Tone Scientists. In tones and notes they speak of many things … The Tone Scientists: architects of places of discipline mathematically precise are the Tone Scientists’ – Sun Ra

The current incarnation of the Arkestra, eleven strong and now led by 91-year-old Marshall Allen, took the stage wearing their trademark capes and headdresses – ritual costumes of intergalactic travellers.

The line-up featuring saxophones, trumpet, trombone, flute, piano, double bass, vibraphone, congas, drums, violin, EWI and the vocals of Tara Middleton, warmed up with a couple of big band swing numbers – the perfect invitation to join their heady brew of free jazz, old swing, hard bop, doo-wop and electronica, peppered with afro-futurist references and stagecraft.

During the two sets played the audience was given an object lesson in locked-in ensemble playing with bouts of glorious improvisation, Marshall Allen spraying notes from his alto as if he were a man half his age. Highlights included the mantic chant over a stew of percussion that is Space is the Place, the hard riffing Rocket Number 9 and a suitably deconstructed When You Wish Upon A Star. (Ra had a liking for Disney films and the Arkestra performed a concert at Disneyworld in the lat 80s.)

We were then invited to Travel the Spaceway as the musicians left the stage and promenaded through the audience before taking their leave and going onto their next destination.

As Ra told his band, ‘if you can’t play it perfectly right, then play it perfectly wrong.’ This Arkestra played it perfectly right.

Photography: Chris Cooper / Shot Away