Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise (1980)

Directed by

Robert Mugge

Genre

documentary, music

Country

United States

Runtime

59 min

Rating

6.4 of 10 from 11 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This film captures performances by Sun Ra and his Arkestra at several venues in the 1970s. It also includes interview and rehearsal footage that shows the group's creative process.

documentary-likeatmosphericmeditativecelebratoryimprovisatoryloosecosmicobservational

What happens

Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise is a 1980 jazz film by Robert Mugge documenting performances by Sun Ra and his Arkestra in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Baltimore, and also including interviews and rehearsal footage. The Philadelphia performances captured by the film took place at Danny's Hollywood Palace and on the rooftop of the Philadelphia International Center. The Baltimore performance took place in the Famous Ballroom, hosted by the Left Bank Jazz Society. Sun Ra compositions featured in the film include "Astro Black," "Along Came Ra," "We Travel the Spaceways," and "Requiem for Trevor Johnson (Discipline 27)." In 2001, the film was screened as part of Maryland Film Festival in the former Famous Ballroom, now part of the expanded Charles Theatre, where the film's Baltimore performances were shot. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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