Sun Ra Arkestra

The American composer, band leader and keyboard player Sun Ra (1914-1993) was a true jazz legend in more than one way. About his life outside of the music is known very little. He claimed to have come from Saturnus. Through the strange costumes he and his Arkestra wore you’d almost believe that, too.

Sun Ra claimed to paint ‘images of eternity’ through his music. In his career, he played everything from bebop and standards to free jazz and solo experiments with synthesizers. During his earthly existence, he kept on composing and experimenting. His legacy is extensive and there are still regular reissues of material he previously released on small, underground labels.

The current Arkestra keeps the music of Sun Ra alive. In 1999 the album “A Song for the Sun” came out that featured old songs, new compositions, and standards; this was followed by “Living Sky” in 2022. It’s still going well with the 99-year-old saxophonist Marshall Allen, who has been a member of the Arkestra since 1958 and has been band leader for years now. He won’t join the band on the current tour however, as his doctor advised him not to use air travel. Regardless: the shows are spectacular as always, with an all-star line-up, with music that transcends space and time. We’re very proud to open the seventh edition of Festival Jazz International Nijmegen with extraordinary jazz from another galaxy.