Sound of Joy
Encyclopedia
Sound of Joy is an album by Sun Ra
and his Arkestra. It features the Arkestral lineup during the last few months of 1956, after trombonist Julian Priester
left to join Lionel Hampton
, Charles Davis
became a regular member of the band, and Victor Sproles
took over on bass
. It was intended as the follow-up to Jazz By Sun Ra
but Transition Records ceased to operate before it could be released.
Four of the tracks were included on Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth
, released in 1966. The entire LP was eventually released in 1968 by Delmark Records, who also re-issued Jazz by Sun Ra
. Two ballads, written by Sun Ra and sung by Clyde Williams, were left off the original album, however, because the president of Delmark Records, Bob Koester, "felt they didn't fit with the other pieces on the session." The songs were reinstated when the album was re-issued on CD in 1994.
Side A:
Side B:
Recorded at the Balkan Studios, Chicago, November 1, 1956.
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
and his Arkestra. It features the Arkestral lineup during the last few months of 1956, after trombonist Julian Priester
Julian Priester
Julian Priester is an American jazz trombonist and composer.He has played with many artists including Sun Ra, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.-Biography:...
left to join Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
, Charles Davis
Charles Davis (saxophonist)
Charles Davis is an American jazz baritone saxophonist who performed extensively with Archie Shepp and Sun Ra, among others.-Biography:...
became a regular member of the band, and Victor Sproles
Victor Sproles
Victor Sproles is a US jazz bassist.Sproles worked in the 1950s with Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan and appears on the Sun Ra recordings Super-Sonic Jazz, Sound of Joy and Deep Purple....
took over on bass
Bass violin
Bass violin is the generic modern term used to denote various 16th- and 17th-century forms of bass instruments of the violin family. They were the direct ancestor of the modern cello. Bass violins were usually somewhat larger than the modern cello, but tuned the same or sometimes just one step...
. It was intended as the follow-up to Jazz By Sun Ra
Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz By Sun Ra is the debut album to be released by Sun Ra. The record label for the first pressing says "07-12-56", presumably when it was recorded. The LP originally appeared on Tom Wilson's short-lived Transition Records...
but Transition Records ceased to operate before it could be released.
Four of the tracks were included on Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth
Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth
Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth is a jazz album by the American musician Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra. Recorded between late 1956 and 1958, the album was originally released on Ra's own Saturn label in 1966, and has since been reissued on CD by Evidence in 1992...
, released in 1966. The entire LP was eventually released in 1968 by Delmark Records, who also re-issued Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz by Sun Ra
Jazz By Sun Ra is the debut album to be released by Sun Ra. The record label for the first pressing says "07-12-56", presumably when it was recorded. The LP originally appeared on Tom Wilson's short-lived Transition Records...
. Two ballads, written by Sun Ra and sung by Clyde Williams, were left off the original album, however, because the president of Delmark Records, Bob Koester, "felt they didn't fit with the other pieces on the session." The songs were reinstated when the album was re-issued on CD in 1994.
12" Vinyl
All tracks were written by Sun Ra, except "Two Tones," by Pat Patrick and Charles Davis.Side A:
- "El is a Sound of Joy" - (4.04)
- "Overtones of China" - (3.25)
- "Two Tones" - (3.41)
- "Paradise" - (4.30)
- "Planet Earth" - (4.24)
Side B:
- "Ankh" - (6.31)
- "Saturn" - (4.01)
- "Reflections in Blue" - (6.21)
- "El Viktor" - (2.33)
Bonus Tracks on the CD
- "As You Once Were"
- "Dreams Come True"
Recorded at the Balkan Studios, Chicago, November 1, 1956.
Personnel
- Sun RaSun RaSun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
- Piano, Wurlitzer electric piano - Art Hoyle - Trumpet
- Dave Young - Trumpet
- John Avant - Trombone
- Pat Patrick - Alto sax, baritone sax
- John GilmoreJohn Gilmore (musician)John Gilmore was an American jazz tenor saxophone player best-known for his long tenure as a member of Sun Ra's Arkestra...
- Tenor sax - Charles DavisCharles Davis (saxophonist)Charles Davis is an American jazz baritone saxophonist who performed extensively with Archie Shepp and Sun Ra, among others.-Biography:...
- Baritone sax - Victor SprolesVictor SprolesVictor Sproles is a US jazz bassist.Sproles worked in the 1950s with Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan and appears on the Sun Ra recordings Super-Sonic Jazz, Sound of Joy and Deep Purple....
- Bass - William Cochran - Drums
- Jim Herndon - Tympani, timbales