Event

SUNG RA

SUNG RA

Rakestar Arkestra joins forces with the mighty Christine Duncan and her Element Choir to interpret beloved standards and anthems of Sun Ra, one of the most freely creative minds in jazz history.

Sun Ra was, and will forever be, a singular jazz visionary, born on planet Saturn, temporarily resident of this planet Earth. He led his Arkestra of devoted musicians through the U.S. and around the world countless times, taking his ever-changing and often radical musical ideas far and wide, with the principal aim of fostering peace on Earth, but always with the secondary purpose of providing excellent fun and spectacle.

RAKESTAR ARKESTRA

Rakestar Arkestra (Ottawa) has performed idiosyncratic interpretations of Sun Ra's music since the beginning of the millenium, adding original compositions, reflecting the diverse trajectories of each band member, remaining rooted in Sun Ra's Afro-Futurist musical universe, with profound respect and gratitude to Sun Ra and to the African American musical tradition from which his music arose.

Rory Magill - Keyboard

Don Cummings - Hammond Organ

Mike Essoudry - Drums + Clarinet

Scott Warren - Electronic Transmissions + Percussion

David Broscoe - Alto + Baritone Saxophone

Rob Frayne - Tenor Saxophone

John Sobol - Tenor Saxophone + Poetics

CHRISTINE DUNCAN

Firebrand vocalist and conductor Christine Duncan (Toronto) came out of gospel, R&B, jazz and blues traditions to forge a singular path into vocal improvisation. She has collaborated with Tanya Tagaq, Veryan Weston, Anthony Braxton, Phil Minton, Evan and William Parker, and many, many others.

ELEMENT CHOIR

Christine Duncan established Element Choir, more than a decade ago, to give fuller voice to the steady stream of ideas coursing through her fertile, quick-witted mind. Element Choir has worked with Tanya Tagaq, William Parker and other exceptional musical voices. Element and Rakestar first collaborated last fall at the Guelph Jazz Festival and vowed to work together again as soon as possible.