Super-Sonic Jazz
Encyclopedia
Super-Sonic Jazz is an album by Sun Ra
, recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios, Chicago. Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on Saturn records
, the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham, and was one of only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s. (The other two are Jazz by Sun Ra
, also released in 1957, and Jazz in Silhouette
, released May 1959.)
The album was retitled as Super-Sonic Sounds when it was reissued in 1974 by Impulse!, but reverted back to its original title when it was released on CD by Evidence records in 1992.
, the label run by Sun Ra and his business partner Alton Abraham. Set up in 1955, they released their first singles, including a doo-wop
group The Cosmic Rays and the Arkestra's Saturn, at the beginning of 1956, and had recorded the whole of their first album by the end of the year, to be released in March 1957. El Saturn is now considered, along with Charles Mingus
and Max Roach
’s Debut label
and Harry Partch
’s Gate 5 label, "one of the very first and most active artist-owned record labels." Often pressed in editions of 75 — sometimes as few as 20 were made for specific concerts — the records would be manufactured using local black businesses, and often put together in Abraham's own home. As John F. Szwed described,
;
Side A:
Side B:
On "Super Blonde", "Soft Talk", "Medicine for a Nightmare", and "Advice to Medics", recorded at RCA studios, possibly June 16, 1956:
On "Kingdom of Not", "Portrait of The Living Sky", "Blues at Midnight", "El Is A Sound of Joy", "India", and "Sunology" (both parts), probably recorded at Balkan Studios, Chicago, September or October 1956:
Mixed at RCA studios, Chicago, February 14, 1957, and released in March with an initial pressing of 500.
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
, recorded in 1956 at RCA Studios, Chicago. Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on Saturn records
El Saturn Records
El Saturn Records is the name of an American record label. The label was one of the most active artist-owned record labels created in 1957 by Alton Abraham. Notable albums produced by the label include works by Sun Ra....
, the label run by Sun Ra and Alton Abraham, and was one of only three albums by Sun Ra to have been available in the 1950s. (The other two are Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz By Sun Ra is the debut album to be released by Sun Ra. The record label for the first pressing says "07-12-56", presumably when it was recorded. The LP originally appeared on Tom Wilson's short-lived Transition Records...
, also released in 1957, and Jazz in Silhouette
Jazz in Silhouette
Jazz in Silhouette is a jazz album by Sun Ra and His Arkestra. Recorded on March 6, 1959 and released May of the same year. The album was recorded in Chicago during a session that also included the whole of Sound Sun Pleasure!! and Interstellar Low Ways from the album of the same name...
, released May 1959.)
The album was retitled as Super-Sonic Sounds when it was reissued in 1974 by Impulse!, but reverted back to its original title when it was released on CD by Evidence records in 1992.
El Saturn Research
Super-Sonic Jazz was the first album to be released on El Saturn ResearchEl Saturn Records
El Saturn Records is the name of an American record label. The label was one of the most active artist-owned record labels created in 1957 by Alton Abraham. Notable albums produced by the label include works by Sun Ra....
, the label run by Sun Ra and his business partner Alton Abraham. Set up in 1955, they released their first singles, including a doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group The Cosmic Rays and the Arkestra's Saturn, at the beginning of 1956, and had recorded the whole of their first album by the end of the year, to be released in March 1957. El Saturn is now considered, along with Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
and Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
’s Debut label
Debut Records
Debut Records was a United States jazz record label, which was founded in 1952 by bassist Charles Mingus, his then-wife Celia and drummer Max Roach.This short-lived label was an attempt to avoid the compromises of working for major companies...
and Harry Partch
Harry Partch
Harry Partch was an American composer and instrument creator. He was one of the first twentieth-century composers to work extensively and systematically with microtonal scales, writing much of his music for custom-made instruments that he built himself, tuned in 11-limit just intonation.-Early...
’s Gate 5 label, "one of the very first and most active artist-owned record labels." Often pressed in editions of 75 — sometimes as few as 20 were made for specific concerts — the records would be manufactured using local black businesses, and often put together in Abraham's own home. As John F. Szwed described,
12" Vinyl
All songs written by Sun Ra except "Soft Talk", written by Julian PriesterJulian Priester
Julian Priester is an American jazz trombonist and composer.He has played with many artists including Sun Ra, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.-Biography:...
;
Side A:
- "India" (4:52)
- "Sunology" (5:43)
- "Advice To Medics" (2:05)
- "Super Blonde" (2:39)
- "Soft Talk" (2:45)
- "Sunology, Part II" (7:08)
Side B:
- "Kingdom Of Not" (5:35)
- "Portrait Of The Living Sky" (1:52)
- "Blues At Midnight" (6:34)
- "El Is A Sound Of Joy" (4:00)
- "Springtime In Chicago" (3:54)
- "Medicine For A Nightmare" (2:25)
Musicians
On "Springtime in Chicago", recorded at Balkan Studios, Chicago, April 13, 1956- Sun RaSun RaSun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
– PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Electric PianoElectric pianoAn electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented... - Art Hoyle – TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, Percussion - Julian PriesterJulian PriesterJulian Priester is an American jazz trombonist and composer.He has played with many artists including Sun Ra, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.-Biography:...
– TromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate... - James Scales – Alto Sax, Percussion
- John GilmoreJohn Gilmore (musician)John Gilmore was an American jazz tenor saxophone player best-known for his long tenure as a member of Sun Ra's Arkestra...
– Percussion - Pat Patrick – Baritone Sax, Percussion
- Wilburn Green – Electric BassElectric BassElectric bass can mean:*Electric upright bass, the electric version of a double bass*Electric bass guitar*Bass synthesizer*Big Mouth Billy Bass, a battery-powered singing fish...
- Robert Barry – DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
On "Super Blonde", "Soft Talk", "Medicine for a Nightmare", and "Advice to Medics", recorded at RCA studios, possibly June 16, 1956:
- Sun Ra – Piano, Electric Piano, 'Space Gong'
- Art Hoyle – Trumpet
- Julian Priester – Trombone
- John Gilmore – Tenor Sax
- Pat Patrick – Baritone Sax
- Wilburn Green – Electric Bass
- Robert Barry – Drums
- Jim Herndon – Tympani, Percussion
On "Kingdom of Not", "Portrait of The Living Sky", "Blues at Midnight", "El Is A Sound of Joy", "India", and "Sunology" (both parts), probably recorded at Balkan Studios, Chicago, September or October 1956:
- Sun Ra – Piano, Electric Piano, 'Space Gong'
- Art Hoyle – Trumpet, Percussion
- Pat Patrick – Alto Sax, Percussion
- John Gilmore – Tenor Sax, Percussion
- Charles DavisCharles Davis (saxophonist)Charles Davis is an American jazz baritone saxophonist who performed extensively with Archie Shepp and Sun Ra, among others.-Biography:...
– Baritone Sax, Percussion - Victor SprolesVictor SprolesVictor Sproles is a US jazz bassist.Sproles worked in the 1950s with Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan and appears on the Sun Ra recordings Super-Sonic Jazz, Sound of Joy and Deep Purple....
– BassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - William Cochran – Drums
- Jim Herndon – Tympani, Percussion
Mixed at RCA studios, Chicago, February 14, 1957, and released in March with an initial pressing of 500.
External links
- R Campbell's Sun Ra Discography
- An Essay by John Corbett on Ra's Saturn label
- Pathways to Unknown Worlds: Sun Ra, El Saturn & Chicago's Afro-Futurist Underground, 1954-68, an exhibition about early Saturn activities
- A Review of Pathways to Unknown Worlds exhibition
- Saturn record catalogues from 1967 and 1969