Sun Ra

1969, the year of the Apollo moon landing, marked another change of scene for the Arkestra, moving from New York to Philadelphia. That year also marked a change of fortunes for Sun Ra, with his face… Audio

Sun Ra moved the Arkestra from Chicago to New York in 1960 and quickly became an integral part of the radical, politically conscious, avant-garde arts scene of the Lower East Side. Part 3 of Strange… Audio

In the mid 50s Sun Ra formed the Arkestra, the cosmic big band that would become his vehicle for musical exploration for the rest of his life. In contrast to the strip club bands he'd been working… Audio

Sun Ra's 'arrival' on Earth, his early years in Alabama, the music of the south that would be a life-long influence on his own work, and his move to Chicago as part of the 'great migration' of African… Audio

Dan Beban discusses his series on Sun Ra, Strange Celestial Road. Audio

A look at the career of one the 20th century's great composers, band leaders and eccentrics, Sun Ra. A mysterious and elusive figure, for most of his life Sun Ra constructed a web of myths and legends… Audio

Jivester, editor and publisher Fergus Barrowman on the sizzle and pop of a snazzy beat. Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian; Ensemble Musikfabrik; and Farmers by Nature. Audio

Jerry Schultz and Robert Schoenholt opened Slug's Saloon in New York's Lower East Side in 1964, providing a raw alternative to Manhattan's glitzy jazz clubs and attracting a who's who of 60s jazz… Audio