Lightning Bolt and Sun Ra Arkestra: Cosmic Connection

http://revision3.com/xlr8rtv/lbsr

Lightning Bolt and Sun Ra Arkestra: Cosmic Connection
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 – running time 08:26

Filmmaker Peter Glantz explores musical, spiritual, and cosmic connections between these two seemingly disparate groups.

We turned this episode of XLR8R TV over to filmmaker Peter Glantz, who went to Providence, Rhode Island's Foo Fest to take a closer look at the festival's two main attractions—Lightning Bolt and Sun Ra Arkestra. Lightning Bolt, Providence's epic noise duo headed up by Brian Chippendale and Brian Gibson, is known for surprising, chaotic, often transcendent performances. Sun Ra Arkestra became legendary in the jazz world under the leadership of cosmic philosopher and organist Sun Ra from the mid-1950s until his death in 1993. Today, the Arkestra continues to flourish and promote the cosmic philosophy of Sun Ra under the direction of alto saxophonist Marshall Allen. Here, Glantz captures both their live performances and meditates on the spiritual alliance between these two far-flung musical compatriots.

Program of rare music films on Saturday, Sept 19 at Monkeytown in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. 7:30 pm

http://www.monkeytownhq.com/9_19_09EARLY.html

A Night of Rare Film Jams

Saturday, September 19th
Admission: $5, $10 minimum
Showtime: 7:30 pm
reservations are recommended

This program features four very unconventional takes on the concert film.

The Singing Fishermen of Ghana by Pete and Toshi Seeger.
1964, 13 minutes.
Young Ghanaian fishermen bring percussionists along on their boats to accompany their work songs, which helps them pace their rowing. They also turn the act of pulling their fish nets onto the shore into a singing, dancing celebration.

Cigarette Blues by Les Blank and Alan Govenar.
1985, 6 minutes.
Sonny Rhodes and the Texas Twisters perform a searing anti-smoking number, accompanied by a beautiful gyrating, smoking dancer and clips of Rhodes talking about the blues.

Christopher Tree by Les Blank.
1967, 10 minutes.
"Improvising spontaneously in a pristine forest, Christopher Tree creates an inspired state of mind in the viewer with his one-man orchestra that includes 40 Tibetan temple gongs, flutes, tympani and wind chimes.” – Les Blank

Spaceways by Edward English.
1968, 18 minutes.
Gorgeous black and white film of Sun Ra and the Arkestra rehearsing at the Sun Ra house at 48 East 3rd Street in New York for their appearance at Carnegie Hall.

Curated by Lauren Madow

October 31, 2009 Sun Ra Arkestra Halloween show at International House Philadelphia

http://www.arsnovaworkshop.org/events/sun-ra-arkestra-under-direction-marshall-allen-10-31-2009

International House Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Saturday, October 31, 2009 - 8:00 pm
Price: $20 General Admission

Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen
Anti-Jazz: The New Thing Revisited

Marshall Allen, alto saxophone + Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI)
Yah Yah Abdul-Majid, tenor saxophone
Knoel Scott, alto saxophone
Danny Ray Thompson, baritone saxophone
Farid Barron, piano
Fred Adams, trumpet
Michael Ray, trumpet
Cecil Brooks, trumpet
Dave Davis, trombone + French horn + tuba
Dave Hotep, el. guitar
Bill Davis, double-bass
Wayne A. Smith, Jr., drums
Elson Nascimento, surdo drum

Join us for this special and spectacular Halloween performance of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Founded in 1958 under the leadership of Sun Ra, the Arkestra pioneered a unique brand of afro-futurism, forging intersecting musical pathways that explore outer space and Egyptian
mythology. Drawing on the work of Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson, the Arkestra are pioneers of the bop-derived avant-garde and collective improvisation. Their work has had tremendous impact on scores of musicians including MC5, Sonic Youth and George Clinton. Following the Arkestra's influential tenures in Chicago and New York City, Sun Ra and the Arkestra relocated to Philadelphia in 1968, where they continue their commitment to the study, research and development of Sun Ra's musical precepts. Following the ascension of Sun Ra in 1993 and John Gilmore in 1995, Maestro Marshall Allen (b. 1924) has launched the Sun Ra Arkestra into a dimension beyond that of mere "ghost" band by writing fresh arrangements of Sun Ra's music, as well as composing new music and arrangements for the Arkestra.

AS220's FooFest 2009 Photos on Flicker

http://www.flickr.com/photos/as220/sets/72157622168301228/