The legendary Sun Ra Arkestra returns with exuberant cosmic jazz — a stirring blend of big‑band swing, free jazz, bebop, spiritual jazz and Afrofuturist spectacle. Formed in Chicago in the mid‑1950s as the vehicle for the visionary composer Sun Ra, the Arkestra has spanned seven decades, touring the globe and inspiring generations with its bold, otherworldly sound.
A pioneer of early synthesizer use and the free‑jazz movement of the 1960s, Sun Ra combined musical innovation with a spiritual mission—using positive vibrations and music to uplift the universe. The Arkestra’s theatrical live shows fuse space‑age improvisation, singing, dancing, chanting and Afro‑pageantry, and helped define Afrofuturism in music and performance.
Since Sun Ra’s death in 1993 the ensemble has carried his gospel forward, recording and touring relentlessly. Recent years have seen a creative renaissance — Swirling (2020), Living Sky (2022) and Lights On a Satellite (2024) showcase a richer, more expansive sound. Now led by longtime member and centenarian saxophonist Marshall Allen, supported by a dozen-plus musicians, the Sun Ra Arkestra delivers high‑energy, visionary performances that keep the groove—and the cosmos—alive.
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "ICE SS" by the Central Jersey punk act Sally Draper.
