The internet is awesome. Searching for live performance by Sun Ra’s Arkestra one minute, you stumble upon his full 1974 cult movie Space Is the Place the next. Yep, the full film is on Youtube, praise the space lords. Wanna know where Madlib took a lot of inspiration for the Quasimoto and Madvillain albums from? Here it is. Afrofuturist and keyboard innovator Sun Ra bringing his heady brew of jazz and interstellar philosophy to the big screen in what can only be described as a unique vision.
For an excellent outside examination of the man and his legacy, the tube also contains the documentary the BBC did on him a few years back. They talked to a lot of the remaing Arkestra members and incorporated video from several performances by the enigmatic band leader. Music lovers who aren’t afraid of the trippier side of the spectrum, grab a tall drink and some popcorn, it’s gonna be a long night. Enjoy!
