by Rashah Amen

It is 1989. I'm sitting around Amon Sherriff's living room one hot New Orleans afternoon, watching Sun Ra videos with several musicians. Among them is ex-Pharoah Sanders, Duke Ellington, Rashaan Roland Kirk drummer (and Strata-East Records executive), Jimmy Hopps. All of a sudden Jimmy goes, "Yeah that's it -- that's the sound! Not many bands can truly get the sound of the big bands of eras gone, but these cats got it." The band Hopps (aka Shahid Jimmi EsSpirit) was referring to was the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra.

One of America's true musical treasures, the Arkestra is one of a few music institutions that swings in the tradition of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, as well as create new and exciting music of the future-now. This video watching session inspired EsSpirit to take a 72 hour vow of silence as he locked himself in a room with all the videos to investigate the sounds of the Arkestra. No one bothered him nor saw him for 72 hours. When he came out of the room he said, "I'm ready to perform with Sun Ra. Please contact him." I then called Sun Ra and told him of EsSpirit's desire.

Sun Ra informed us that he soon would be in New Orleans for Jazzfest. He also said Pharoah was one of his proteges and he would see EsSpirit on the trip to New Orleans.

The classic meeting of the two high-spirit beings took place at the fairground the day before the Arkestra was set to perform. I was standing next to Gil Scott-Heron's saxophonist Bilal Sunni-Ali when I introduced the pair: "Sonny this is Shahid. Shahid this is Sun Ra."

Bilal and I stood back as these two giants of Black Classical Music met. To our amazement, there was a golden glitter-like effect that appeared to us over their heads...not like a halo, yet physical just the same. Bilal and I acknowledged this to one another. We were witnessing something truly special. Shahid indeed did perform with the Arkestra. He left New Orleans the next day to tour with the band. Ten years later, maestro Sun Ra has returned to Saturn (although his spirit is present at every Arkestra concert). Still the band zooms onward and outward under the direction of alto saxophonist/ composer Marshall Allen. Built on the foundation of precision and discipline, The Sun Ra Arkestra continues to be a power-house ensemble with one of the most extensive repitores of any band, ever! From Jimmy Lunceford and Fletcher Henderson tunes to the wealth of Sun Ra compositions, from high-energy improvisational explorations to Gershwin and Disney tunes, Sun Ra Arkestra concerts are amazing rituals; complete with dance, song, percussion jams and chants. Like Sun Ra, Marshall Allen was born under the sign of Gemini. His energy for composing, rehearsing and performing speaks loudly of his committment to keeping the Ra spaceship in high orbit.

Allen wrote several of the songs on their newest CD, A Song For The Sun. This is the group's first recording since Sun Ra left the planet. Allen said, "This CD focuses on the band doing their swing thang -- I figured we would record some swinging and beautiful material before we got wild again." Swinging and beautiful the CD truly is.

The Sun Ra Arkestra will soon land its spaceship in Austin for the first time since the historic Liberty Lunch show back in 1988. The Arkestra headlines the Austin International Music Extravaganza's 2nd Annual "Peace-N-Rhythm Festival" happpening, November 16-20.

The week's activities start with drum and dance workshops November 16 at Givens Recreation Center. A second workshop is set for the Cantu Pan American Recreation Center on the November 17. Both workshops are free and target young participants in Austin's after school programs. The "Peace Filled Journey" Music and Meditation Workshop, hosted by Amon and Cina Sherriff, Austin Meditation Center, and discipiles of Sri Chimnoy is scheduled for Saturday November 20, 2pm at Casa de Luz.

The performance component of the Austin International Music Extravaganza features The Sun Ra Arkestra and The Cosmic International Ensemble at 7:30pm, November 18 at the St. Edwards University Ragsdale Center (Mabee Ballroom). The performances spotlight the Arkestra as well as local musicians in Austin's international music scene. The line-up for November 18 includes members of the Gypies, Correo Aereo, the Oliver Rajamani Group, Cosmic Intuition, and more.

"Peace-N-Rhythm Week 1999" concludes with The Peace-N-Rhythm International Drum and Percussion Festival. Featured artist is Arkestra set-drums master, Shahid EsSpirit. Additionally, the festival features 15 drum/percussion performances from Oliver Rajamani, Tropical Productions, Dwayne (D-Madness) Jackson, Boris Wright, Daniel Llanes, Ras Iginga, and others. Open drumming circles are scheduled, so bring your drums.

Tickets for the Austin International Music Extravaganza are available at Sound Exchange, Jupiter Records and 33 Degrees, or by calling (512) 604-4405.