Search - Sun Ra & His Omniverse Arkestra :: Destination Unknown

Courageous but saddening

Paul Carr | Silver Spring, MD United States | 07/29/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Sun Ra recorded this live album near the end of his life. Almost anyone else would have retired at this point. His illness had clearly taken a toll on his playing, although the rest of the Arkestra are in fine form here, playing familiar Sun Ra material with great skill and singing with energy. It sounds like they're having fun. However, the great tenor sax player John Gilmore is missing from this performance. Another negative is that at this point there was very little if any new material from Sun Ra. Everything here is a standard. So, this isn't an essential recording, and hearing it makes me feel a little sad that Sun Ra's so-called life on this planet has ended. We'll never replace him."

Sunra at hsi best

joe | delaware | 07/09/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"sunra puts togehter another strange but powerful album filled with explosive moments"

The Groove is What Moves

Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 11/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Released in 1992, this is Sun Ra in the latter stage of his remarkable career and still showing amazing energy in concert, though health problems had begun to mount.



The 10 numbers - clocking nearly 56 minutes - are mostly mainstays from playlists, though the focus is on the groove more than improvisation. The 10-member His Omniverse Arkestra features Marshall Allen (vocals, alto sax), Michael Ray (trumpet), Ahmed Abdullah (trumpet, vocals) and Tyrone Hill (trombone), with Sun Ra on synthesizer and piano.



Sun Ra seemingly fed off the crowd's vibe to focus on his performance, while casting aside any medical problems and remaining the leader of his band. The genius of Sun Ra is bright and the warm rays was great therapy, but not only for his soul."