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Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons: Live in Philadelphia

By Mark Corroto
July 26, 2025
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Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons: Live in Philadelphia

In 2025, the Collegium Cardinalium, or College of Cardinals—a body formed in the Middle Ages—convened a conclave in Rome to elect a new Pope for the Catholic Church. Nearly five centuries before the inception of such conclaves, Tibetan Buddhists established their own process of succession by searching for the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, often discovered in the form of a child. These spiritual traditions of succession are vital for preserving the identity, rituals and philosophies of their institutions. Each new leader brings a unique temperament, vision and vitality to the role.

Since the passing of

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra in 1993, leadership of the Arkestra transitioned to saxophonist

Marshall Allen

saxophone, alto
b.1924

" data-original-title="" title="">Marshall Allen. Born in 1924, Allen became a core member of the Arkestra in the late 1950s and has since embodied its cosmic mission with unwavering dedication. From their base in Philadelphia, Allen has continued to lead and shape the Arkestra's direction, bridging eras while remaining true to its celestial ethos.

As Allen approached his centennial, doctors advised against his travel outside of Philadelphia. In response, Ars Nova Workshop launched the Ghost Horizons concert series—a project curated by longtime Arkestra guitarist

DM Hotep

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">DM Hotep. Designed to showcase Allen's boundless creativity, the series featured a rotating ensemble of Arkestra members alongside a roster of handpicked guest artists.

Under Allen's stewardship, the Arkestra has released a series of excellent recordings that celebrate Sun Ra's enduring legacy, including Live at Babylon (In+Out, 2015), Swirling (Strut/Art Yard, 2020) and Lights on a Satellite (In+Out, 2024). In a surprising milestone, Allen also released his debut solo album, New Dawn (Week-End Records), in 2024. Ghost Horizons—though clearly infused with Sun Ra's astral DNA—extends far beyond homage. It is a forward-looking document of Allen's 21st-century vision, charged with the vitality of an artist still reaching for the stars.

That vision is amplified by an eclectic lineup of guest artists. Jazz luminaries such as

William Parker

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">William Parker,

James Brandon Lewis

saxophone, tenor
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">James Brandon Lewis,

Immanuel Wilkins

saxophone, alto
b.1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Immanuel Wilkins,

Eric Revis

bass
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Revis,

Luke Stewart

bass, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Luke Stewart and

Chad Taylor

drums
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Chad Taylor are joined by genre-defying figures like

James McNew

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">James McNew (

Yo La Tengo

" data-original-title="" title="">Yo La Tengo),

Tcheser Holmes

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Tcheser Holmes (

Irreversible Entanglements

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Irreversible Entanglements),

Mikel Patrick Avery

drums
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Mikel Patrick Avery (

Joshua Abrams

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Abrams's Natural Information Society),

Charlie Hall

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Hall (

The War on Drugs

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">The War on Drugs), and experimentalists

John Olson

multi-instrumentalist

" data-original-title="" title="">John Olson and

Nate Young

electronics

" data-original-title="" title="">Nate Young of

wolf eyes

" data-original-title="" title="">wolf eyes. Drawn from two years of performances at the Solar Myth jazz club in Philadelphia, the music moves between space-jazz processions like "Tachyons Flux From the Cosmic Blueprints" and earth-shaking, bass-heavy tracks like "The Hills." Allen's presence is unmistakable—his darting alto saxophone lines and playful Casio VL-Tone work permeate each piece.

Ghost Horizons also challenges Allen with soundscapes beyond the Arkestra's traditional orbit. "Square the Circle" evokes the exploratory rock textures of 1970s

Pink Floyd

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Pink Floyd, while "Warn Them" dives headfirst into harsh, circuit-bending electronics—both serve as launchpads for Allen's piercing, rapid-fire saxophone. The program zigs and zags through percussion-rich odysseys like "Cosmic Dreamers, Ode to Elegua," the swinging abstraction of "We'll Wait for You/Hit That Jive, Jac," the dreamy introspection of "Slip Stream" and "The Last Transmissions."

At once retrospective and relentlessly forward-facing, Ghost Horizons affirms that even at a century of life, Marshall Allen remains a vital, visionary force—pushing boundaries, inspiring new generations and proving that cosmic music knows no expiration date.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Seductive Fantasy; Back to You; We'll Wait For You/Hit That Jive, Jack; The Last Transmission; Stay Lifted; On Solar Planes; Space Ghost; The Hills; Square The Circle; In The Silence Of The Infinite; Cosmic Dreamers, Ode to Elegua; The Unknown; Warn Them; Slip Stream; Tachyons Flux From The Cosmic Blueprints; Rindima.

Personnel

Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons

band / ensemble / orchestra

Marshall Allen

saxophone, alto

Eric Revis

bass

James Brandon Lewis

saxophone, tenor

Luke Stewart

bass, electric

Michael Ray

trumpet

Brian Marsella

keyboards

Chad Taylor

drums

William Parker

bass

Tara Middleston

violin

Melanie Dyer

viola

D.Hotep

guitar

Additional Instrumentation

Marshall Allen: Casio VL-Tone, EVI, vocals; John Olson: electronics, pipes; Esteban ��Tongo�� Hernandez: bat�� drum, vocals; James McNew: bass, electronics, sampler; Tara Middleston: vocals, effects; Christian Noguera: bat�� drum, vocals; Tcheser Holmes: drums, percussion; Kevin Diehl: bat�� drum, vocals; DM Hotep: kalimba, vocals; Immanuel Wilkins: electronics; Jan Jeffries: drums, percussion; Dave Davis: trombone; Michael Patrick Avery: drums, percussion; Kash Killion: cello, sarangi; Joseph Toledo: vocals, percussion; Joseph Toledo: crash pad vocals; Charlie Hall: drums, percussion, mellotron; Elliott Levin: saxophone, flute.

Album information

Title: Live in Philadelphia | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Otherly Love Records/Ars Nova

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