Strut and Art Yard present another exclusive from the vast catalogue of cosmic jazz pioneer Sun Ra: a previously unreleased radio session most likely recorded at the WXPN FM radio studios in Philadelphia, 1974-5.

LP Tracklist:
A1. Island In The Sun 8.36
A2. New Dawn 10.31
B1. Unmask The Batman 6.06
B2. I’Ll Wait For You 14.02

Strut and Art Yard present another exclusive from the vast catalogue of cosmic jazz pioneer Sun Ra: a previously unreleased radio session most likely recorded at the WXPN FM radio studios in Philadelphia, 1974-5. This newly discovered session features a new version of Ra’s earlier ‘Island In The Sun’, a romping, raucous rendition of ‘Unmask The Batman’ and the frst studio recording of ‘I’ll Wait For You’ There is no bass player on the sessions and Ra’s left hand beats out a rhythmic bass pattern on the piano. All tracks are remastered directly from the original tapes. The album package features a newly commissioned painting by legendary Bristol urban artist Guy Denning and new sleeve notes by Paul Griffths.
Recently discovered in the Sun Ra archive, the recording forms part of a series of sessions that Ra and the Arkestra recorded for WXPN-FM between 1974 and 1980. The ‘Antique Blacks’ album was recorded there in ’74. Based on the campus of The University of Pennsylvania, WXPN’s station manager Jules Epstein and music director Russ Woessner were instrumental in the exposure and recording of The Arkestra in their broadcast production studios. Geno Barnhart, founder of The Empty Foxhole concert collective, Jules and Russ broadcast an on-going series of jazz concerts covering a wide spectrum. The Arkestra performed at The Foxhole in Philly many times from 1974.

1LP IN SINGLE SLEEVE, A4 INSERT SHEET 1pp

Personnel:
SUN RA: Piano
JOHN GILMORE: Tenor Saxophone
MARSHALL ALLEN: Flute, Alto
Saxophone
DANNY RAY THOMPSON: Baritone
Saxophone, Percussion
ATAKATUNE: Oboe, Congas
EDDIE THOMAS: Drums
ELO OMOE: Bass Clarinet, Hand Claps
AKH TAL EBAH: Trumpet, Vocal
JAMES JACSON: Congas, Vocal

KEY POINTS:
- First ever release of radio sessions recorded in Philadelphia around 1974-5
- features newly commissioned artwork by Guy Denning, pioneering artist from Bristol’s urban art scene + new sleeve notes by Paul Griffths
- Remastered by Technology Works from the original master tapes
- Offcial release in conjunction with Sun Ra LLC

FOR FANS OF:
Miles Davis, Kamasi Washington, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Fletcher Henderson, Batman, Gershwin, The Pyramids, Salah Ragab, doo-wop, be-bop, Philip Cohran, Jerry Dammers, Gilles Peterson, Shabaka Hutchings