Marshall Allen at Fed Square during the 2011 MIJF
PREVIEW: Sun Ra Arkestra, The Forum, Sunday January 18 at 7pm
The Abbott Government reckons it has stopped the boats, without really meaning to invade Indonesia’s space too much (oops!), but there’s no way Scott Morrison can stop the invasion that will hit the Forum on Sunday, January 18.
Anyone who heard Sun Ra collaborator Marshall Allen leading the 10-piece Sun Ra Arkestra when last they landed in 2011 for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival will want to be there for this one-off visit.
Sources close to MIJF described these guys as “a bunch of old space invaders” keeping alive the spirit of pianist, composer and organist Sun Ra. They are cool as and it is not too over the top to say they are “surreal, astonishing and unmissable”.
Here’s how the festival has billed this concert, which starts when doors open at 6.15pm with DJ Mike Gurrieri. Sun Ra Arkestra will be on at 7pm:
“The Arkestra’s iconic live performances are mind-altering, life-affirming and joyously unforgettable.
“The Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s latest initiative, Summer Sessions, allows the Festival to bring a greater range of international artists to Melbourne throughout the year. A summer teaser before the big winter program on 30 May to 8 June, Summer Sessions is an annual concert celebrating the best in worldwide jazz every summer.
“One of the great cult-icons of jazz, pianist, composer and organist Sun Ra formed the Arkestra in the mid 1950s and led it until his death in 1993. His ensemble has continued performing and creating supernatural sounds ever since, keeping the spirit of their late leader alive and bringing his music to new generations of Sun Ra lovers around the world.
In a performance unlike anything you’ve seen before, this big band of “Tone Scientists” will take you on an innovative, subversive and swinging exploration of cosmic sounds across the musical galaxy and beyond.”
EVENT DETAILS:
Melbourne International Jazz Festival Summer Sessions: Sun Ra Arkestra
Venue: The Forum
Cost: $59/54 conc
Tickets on sale now
Bookings through melbournejazz.com
Sun Ra Arkestra at the Kelvin Club, Melbourne, during the 2011 MIJF.
Sun Ra Arkestra at the Kelvin Club, Melbourne, during the 2011 MIJF.
Sun Ra Arkestra at the Kelvin Club, Melbourne, during the 2011 MIJF.
Sun Ra Arkestra at the Kelvin Club, Melbourne, during the 2011 MIJF.
Sun Ra Arkestra at the Kelvin Club, Melbourne, during the 2011 MIJF.
Sun Ra Arkestra at the Kelvin Club, Melbourne, during the 2011 MIJF.
Sun Ra Arkestra at the Kelvin Club, Melbourne, during the 2011 MIJF.
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