Atlantis (Sun Ra album)

Atlantis is an album by American jazz musician Sun Ra and his Astro-Infinity Arkestra, released in 1969 by El Saturn Records.

Atlantis
Studio album by
Sun Ra
Released1969[1]
Recorded1967 – 1969
VenueThe Olatunji Center of African Culture, New York (Atlantis)
StudioSun Studios, New York
GenreAvant-garde jazz
Length42:35 (original release)
40:46 (Impulse reissue)
LabelSaturn, Impulse!, Evidence
ProducerAlton Abraham
Sun Ra chronology
Continuation
(1968)		 Atlantis
(1969)		 My Brother the Wind
(1970)
Reissue cover
1973 Impulse! reissue
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [2]
All About Jazz(not rated) [3]

The album heavily features the "Solar Sound Instrument", a Hohner Clavinet. One of the four compositions which originally featured on Side 1 of the original release was substituted by a different piece for the 1973 reissue, though reusing the same name, "Yucatan". Both pieces appear on the later CD reissue.

The title track covered the second side of the LP and is regarded as a key prototype for Sun Ra's performances through the 1970s.[4] It was recorded at a 1967 concert at the Olatunji Center of African Culture in New York [5] and has been described as "a masterpiece that twists and turns through many soundscapes".[6]

[The title track Atlantis is] one of Ra's most epic pieces, which is free or 'space' jazz at its most invigorating. While virtually indescribable, the sonic churnings and juxtaposed images reveal a brilliant display of textures and tonalities set against an ocean of occasional rhythms. Its diversity alone makes this is an essential entry in the voluminous Sun Ra catalog.
—Lindsay Planer [7]

Recording sessions

Side one was likely recorded at Sun Studios, New York (the Arkestra's commune) between 1967 and 1969;[1] The title track on side two, Atlantis was recorded at the Olatunji Cultural Center on 125th Street, NY, in 1967.[8] A different piece, similarly titled Yucatan was also recorded at the same period and later included for the Impulse reissue in 1973. Both versions of Yucatan were included when a record label, Evidence reissued Atlantis in the 1990s. This arrangement remained when Sun Ra's entire back catalog was remastered and reissued by Ra's estate (under the supervision of Irwin Chusid) in 2014.

Track listing

All tracks written by Sun Ra.

Side A:

  1. "Mu" – 4:30
  2. "Lemuria" – 5:02
  3. "Yucatan" (either Saturn version, 5:27 or Impulse! version, 3:38)
  4. "Bimini" – 5:45

Side B:

  1. "Atlantis" – 21:51

Personnel
  • Sun Ra – Solar Sound Organ, Solar Sound Instrument (Clavinet)
  • John Gilmore- Tenor Saxophone, Percussion
  • Pat Patrick- Baritone Saxophone, Flute
  • Marshall Allen- Alto Saxophone, Oboe
  • Danny Ray Thompson – Alto Saxophone, Flute
  • Bob Barry – Drums, Lightning Drum
  • Wayne Harris – Trumpet
  • Ebah – Trumpet
  • Carl Nimrod – Space Drums
  • James Jacson – Log Drums
  • Robert Cummins – Bass Clarinet
  • Danny Davis – Alto Saxophone
  • Ali Harsan – Trombone
  • Alton Abraham – Producer (for Ihnfinity inc.)

References
  1. Sun Ra's Discography, R Campbell
  2. Planer, Lindsay. Atlantis at AllMusic
  3. MacLaren, Trevor (5 October 2003). "Sun Ra: Atlantis". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  4. Litweiler, John (1984). The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958. Da Capo. p. 147. ISBN 0-306-80377-1.
  5. Szwed, John F (1997). Space is the Place. Payback Press. p. 248. ISBN 0-86241-722-8.
  6. McLaren, Trevor (2003-10-03). "Sun Ra: Atlantis". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  7. Allmusic
  8. John Szwed, Village Voice
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