About

The Arkestra were at the peak of their powers in 1977, releasing revered albums like The Soul Vibration Of Man and My Favorite Things with Arkestra regulars Marshall Allen, Danny Ray Thompson, Michael Ray and Luqman Ali among the core musicians. Ra also continued his touring in Europe with historic gigs in Italy. During this period, Arkestra live performances were often loosely structured into thematic blocks that moved from reflections on jazz history to cosmic “space narrative” sections featuring collective chants, extended Africa/Egypt-inspired grooves and selections from the Great American Songbook. This recording brings in all of these features with re imagined versions of standards like ‘Take The “A” Train’, ‘St. Louis Blues’ and title track ‘Over The Rainbow’ alongside rarely recorded Ra compositions like ‘Make Another Mistake’ and ‘Amen Meni Many Amens’. Ra conducted improvisations to guide the listener seamlessly from one musical scene to the next. As Sun Ra himself described it: “It’s like a party—we enjoy ourselves and everybody’s invited to enjoy it with us.”

The original version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow assembled a handful of clearly delineated tracks drawn from the flow of two complete concert recordings, re-arranged out of sequence. Strut’s new edition restores previously excised material and preserves more of the natural transitions between pieces, offering a fuller glimpse into the distinctive aesthetic of Sun Ra and his Arkestra. — (via Label)

—

Somewhere Over the Rainbow documents two Sun Ra Arkestra performances at the Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana in 1977. The original Saturn LP included seven selections from the shows, re-arranged out of sequence. Strut's definitive edition of the album, issued in 2026, restores material which wasn't previously released, and seems to be presented much closer to the actual running order of the setlists. Ra often arranged concerts into thematic blocks, with some sections focusing on the past by paying tribute to his early influences, and others on the future, exploring celestial and cosmic themes.

Arkestra versions of jazz standards like "Take the 'A' Train," "St. Louis Blues," and "King Porter Stomp" are all present, and they're often radicalized and played with reckless abandon. "Yeah Man!" zips by at lightning speed, and "Keep Your Sunny Side Up" is a ramshackle celebration. Arkestra staples like "Discipline 27" are electrified, spilling over with energy, and a rousing version of Space Is the Place highlight "Images" (here titled "Images in a Mirror") goes off on a wonderful tangent. "Amen Meni Many Amens," a lesser-recorded cut, is a winding, gospel-inspired bop tune, and one of a few tracks featuring chants from the whole Arkestra, much like the "space narrative" sections of the concerts. Following a brief bit of "Next Stop Mars" and a clapping, swinging rendition of "Over the Rainbow," the Arkestra plays "I'll Wait for You" with a thumping 4/4 rhythm and scattered flute and horns, turning it into something resembling a very avant-garde disco track. The encouraging chant of "Make Another Mistake" is delivered in a proto-rap cadence, and focuses almost entirely on drums and vocals.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is representative of an Arkestra concert: fun, chaotic, mind-expanding, and inspiring. — (via AllMusic)

—

— Expanded reissue, pressed across 3LP
— Housed in a triple gatefold sleeve
— Remastered by Technology Works from the original source tapes
— Includes new liner notes by Chris Cutler alongside video stills from the original concert

↓
Label: Strut
Format: 3 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Reissued: 2026 / Originally Released: 1977
Genre: Jazz
Style: Free Jazz, Big Band

File under: Audiophile Jazz
⦿