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| | Jazz in Silhouette | | | Music Artist : | | Sun Ra Arkestra | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Evidence | | Release Date : | | 1992-02-06 | | Store Price : | | $16.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $14.99 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. Enlightenment
2. Saturn
3. Velvet
4. Ancient Aiethopia
5. Hours After
6. Horoscope
7. Images
8. Blues at Midnight
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 Closer to Sun Song than Sound of Joy
Submitted on: 2009-09-28 |
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In production and tone, Jazz in Silhouette may sound like more of a step backward after the fantastic Sound of Joy or the B side of Angels and Demons at Play, but since so much was happening at once and a great deal of this music did not get any sort of release until later, it may be difficult to talk about progression.
I am a big fan of the more 'open' and 'loose' presentation of Sound of Joy which seems to bring out more of the arkestra, while Jazz in Silhouette brings back the 'horns up in the front' mix that to my ears produces a rather bright but shallow feel. This isn't to say that Jazz in Silhouette is a bad album--far from it! This is the classic Sun Ra sound, but whether its the more traditional presentation or the mix of songs, I find this one a bit of a bore, especially when there are some really strong albums next to it (again, Sounds of Joy, Visits Planet Earth, Nubians from Plutonia). I can understand why people rave when they hear Sun Ra playing more-or-less straight jazz, but again, this is not the only Sun Ra album that does it, and others, in my opinion, do it better.
As said elsewhere, Ancient Aeitheopia is the centerpiece here and is probably worth the price of admission. Also featured is the earliest version I've yet heard of Enlightenment and another version of Saturn. Of Aeitheopia, this is definitely a forward looking track which points toward what is to come. The album concludes with the swinging Blues at Midnight that clocks in at almost 12 minutes, building to some really great moments despite taking nothing in the way of risks.
Summing things up then, Jazz in Silhouette to my ears sounds like a last gasp of the old before moving ahead. It's dissapointing, at least to me, that these recordings don't offer more, given the chronological position of the album. By no means was Ra merely playing straight ahead tunes at this point, and even then, I don't think this is the best of his 'straight' albums. Those who are filling in there Sun Ra collection or are looking exclusively for his more traditional output will enjoy this album (I do), but those who are hoping to find some of the transitional Ra as found on...well basically every other album after this, but before the full-on-weirdness of the 60's, may be dissapointed.
I just wish Silhouette could take a few more risks.
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More straight forward/traditional jazz
Submitted on: 2009-05-18 |
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| This one is alot more of a straight forward type of jazz with elements of the "far out" style present. Definatly a good album. Since it is more traditional, the casual jazz fan should enjoy the flow of the album - as well as those who seek the element of experimentation. Eight strong tracks from the late 50s and early 60s. |
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 Another Long-Forgotten Gem
Submitted on: 2008-08-21 |
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Sun Ra stood as an iconoclast within the jazz world from his first recording in 1953. Indeed, Sun Ra stood as an enigma within our world.
Inspired by what he claimed were experiences in outer space, Sun Ra's precept of jazz delved into a much more progressive and avant-garde structure, one that evolved from the be-bop stylings showcased on his first recordings.
Jazz In Silhouette, one of many long forgotten Sun Ra albums, highlights the be-bop he cherished before stepping into the fold of the avant-garde. This album is rich in composition, with extended solos throughout courtesy of Sun Ra's Arkestra. To describe the music contained within this album as majestic would be an understatement. The sheer joy of the recording is finely captured here, every note and solo encompassing Sun Ra's larger themes of space, peace, and love.
This is Sun Ra before the avant-garde. This is Sun Ra's take on be-bop. This is Sun Ra jazz. |
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A pleasant surprise and a great CD
Submitted on: 2008-03-11 |
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| I started listening to this CD, knowing only the guy's name and that he claimed to be from Saturn. So, when the first song started with a gong, I was nervous that my jazz listening skills would once again be challenged with some off-the-wall, "I can make stranger sounding jazz music than you can" type of recording. I was pleasantly surprised to find Sun Ra and his "Arkestra" to be amazingly approachable and authentic. Their sound is a very big band, steady swing type of sound, and while one or two tracks experiment with some chanting, odd rhythms and non-traditional instruments, most of this is straight ahead, classic-sounding jazz. I found myself humming or even "scatting" a melody or two to myself during the day, and after a steady four or five day diet of Miles Davis, I found the transition to Sun Ra unexpectedly smooth. I will be coming back to this CD often in the future. |
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Highly Recommended
Submitted on: 2007-09-25 |
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| Superb listening. This group just makes the music flow, always interesting and creating a melodious undercurrent which varies from piece to piece. A classic album for lovers of creative jazz. |
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