Sun Ra Arkestra - Sunrise in Different Dimensions (hat Hut, 1981)

This post is by Scott

Sun Ra (org, p); Marshall Allen (as, fl, ob); John Gilmore (ts, cl, fl); Knoel Scott (as, bs, fl, ob); Danny Thompson (bs, fl); Kenneth Williams (bs, ts, fl); Michael Ray (tr, flhn); Eric "Samarai Celestial" Walker (d); Chris "Chubby" Henderson (d); June Tyson (vo)

Recorded on February 24, 1980

When it comes to Sun Ra's output in the 1980s, this is the disc that I pull from the shelf most often.  It's a live date from Willisau, Switzerland, and it captures the Sun Ra Arkestra in all its kaleidoscopic, multi-faceted glory.

Along with their usual assortment of far-out cosmic explorations, I love how this concert captures the Arkestra as it careens through jazz standards like "Limehouse Blues" and "King Porter Stomp."  They play the music with such love and such reverent irreverence!  It makes the "old" music seems completely contemporary. 

One note: Over the years, the various releases of this concert have differed slightly, due to format limitations.  For the complete concert, check out the Enterplanetary Koncepts reissue from 2014, as seen here.