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The Sun Ra Arkestra at Cafe Oto, London
Cafe Oto
London, England
14 April 2010
A fantastic atmosphere enveloped Dalston's Cafe Oto with whoops and shouts of affirmation greeting every inflection and chant as the Sun Ra Arkestra launched into "Interplanetary Music," with vocal interjections erupting from all corners of the bandstand. With their colorful kaleidoscopic costumes, Cafe Oto decked out with extra lights and a spangly backdrop, and infectiously joyful music, it was impossible not to beam with pleasure at the almost overwhelming spectacle. Twelve musicians crammed into the stage area and the full house audience packed into the remainder of the space. It was the final night of a sold out three day residency and everyone was determined to have a good time.
Since 
Sun Ra
piano1914 - 1993
Marshall Allen
saxophone, altob.1924
After such a wonderful start with bustling instrumental breaks, the band charged into a surging "Discipline 27/I'll Wait For You." Unsurprisingly neither band nor audience could sustain the tremendous initial energy levels, and momentum flagged slightly with a succession of vocal numbers. Few ensembles possess such range as the Arkestra who span all the way from '30s Swing era big band pomp right up to New Thing squalls. And they have a great back catalog to dig into. Allen sported a two inch thick folder bursting with charts from which he selected successive pieces. Indeed some of the band spent half a tune sorting through their papers to find the correct sheet, then gave up and just played anyway.
Later highlights from the first set included the paradoxically polished yet off kilter swing of "Saturn," a Sun Ra composition which first entered the repertoire in 1956. Remarkable to consider that Allen has been playing this piece for over 50 years! 
Duke Ellington
piano
1899 - 1974
Michael Ray
trumpet
b.1962
Resplendent in sparkling red robes, Allen commanded the stage from front left, orchestrating, directing, and choosing soloists. He was full of energy at 85 years old, and needed it as the Arkestra presented two typically far reaching sets totaling nearly 165 minutes. Nearly all of his solos, like everyone else's, were short and succinct. To hear Allen at his most expansive you generally have to track him down outside the Arkestra, but it's well worth the effort, whether finding him exploring his impulsively lyrical side on his first leadership date with altoist 
Mark Whitecage
saxophone, alto
b.1937
Matthew Shipp
piano
b.1960
Joe Morris
bass, acoustic
b.1955
Allen remains the Arkestra's most fiery soloist, but he was also very accomplished inside as demonstrated by way of a sublimely tender soliloquy on Chopin's "Opus 27," though interspersed with increasingly astringent outbursts, as the horns massed in support. Ray proved an inspired and incisive soloist in addition to acting as compere, while Majid handled lead tenor duties with quiet assurance. Scott contributed sinuous alto saxophone alongside his vocals, and Danny Ray Thompson's baritone sax took a break from underpinning to enjoy the spotlight on "Stars Fall On Alabama."
Undoubted highlight of the second set was an amazing driving "Angels And Demons At Play." First appearing on the eponymous album in 1965, it is one of the few Arkestra originals not written by Sun Ra, credited to Allen and bassist Ronnie Boykins
bass, acoustic
b.1935
Well not quite. Due to the volcanic ash cloud, the Arkestra were stranded at Heathrow so Cafe Oto scheduled a supplementary benefit appearance five days later to cover the not inconsiderable costs of keeping the musicians going while waiting to get home. For those who missed the performances the recent Live At The Paradox (In And Out, 2009) gives an accurate indication of what to expect these days, but there is even better news: the Arkestra returns to Cafe Oto for a further two day residency in early July 2010.
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