THE NIGHT OF THE PURPLE MOON by SUN RA
Description
Studio recorded in 1970, New York, with the small gathering of Sun Ra, John Gilmore, Danny Davis and Stafford James, Night of the Purple Moon is a unique recording all about Sun Ra's fantastic, yet quiet, meditations. Eleven songs have been augmented by three 60's home recordings of Sun Ra on electric piano and an alternate take of Love in Outer Space.
About half of this collection is Ra, solo, sweetly thinking on his Rocksichord, Mini-Moog or electric piano, while the other half features the quartet. Gilmore plays a wonderfully strong, classic tenor sax on Impromptu Festival, yet works as drummer for the rest, with James backing on electric bass. Davis dominates with alto sax on A Bird's Eye View Of Man's World and the catchy opener, Sun-Earth Rock, which you might find yourself humming throughout the day. On others he variously plays clarinet, flute and bongos.
Purple Moon is not Big Band Arkestra in a showy mood, with explosions, tsunamis and choral singing. In fact, there are no vocals. Mr. Ra conducts this little fireside chat through music alone. It's like his mind is wired to yours. Put it on and you will feel him with you, fire in his eyes, joy in his heart, and love in his soul. The moon may even look purple.
