Fridaze Jazz Cuts

“Sun Ra, born in Alabama, then the most segregated place on Earth.  He rejected convention and claimed to be from Saturn, “planet of discipline. He brought together Egyptology and the imagery of the Space Age to project a philosophy of radical empowerment – for the entire Cosmos. Keeping a big band on the road for decades through independence and communal living, Sun Ra became a patriarch of jazz.”

The following documentary directed by Don Letts and screened back in 2005 on BBC  presents the Sun Ra story in all its glory, combining powerful footage of Ra and his legendary Arkestra, interviews with band members shot at their famous group house in Philadelphia, and testimony from Archie Shepp, Amiri Baraka, John Sinclair and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore….

“Last night, the night before, 24 robbers at my door, I got up and let them in, hit em in the head with a rolling pin”

Homage III - The Cohran Family Philosphy Mixed by DJ Expo

This is a collage of sounds from Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and the roots of their music. This half-hour mix is a journey through instrumentals and interviews of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Phil Cohran, added in with a sprinkle of Sun Ra, whom Cohran worked with in the pivotal, early years. The listening experience will shed light on the Chicago family’s story, inspiration, and feelings.

Homage III – The Cohran Family Philosphy (Mixed by DJ Expo) by ArtDontSleep

1. Randolph St. Swing – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
2. Ballicki Home – H.B.E.
3. War – H.B.E.
4. Marcus Garvey – H.B.E.
5. Water – H.B.E.
6. Flipside – H.B.E.
7. Rainbows – H.B.E.
8. Scrabble – H.B.E. feat Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (recorded live in LA)
9. Alyo – H.B.E.
10. Tema Do Canibal – BK-One feat Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
11. Brass In Africa – H.B.E.
12. Africa – Sun Ra
13. White Nile – Phil Cohran and Legacy
14. The Dogon – Phil Cohran and Legacy
15. Unity – Phil Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensamble
16. Mushallah – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
17. Moments – H.B.E.
18. Spottie – H.B.E.
19. Black Boy – Hypnotic Brass (w/ readings by Phil Cohran)

From the forthcoming album Kelan Philip Cohran & The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble on Honest Jon’s Records, to be released May 2012. honestjons.com

R.I.P Jeff Gilson – The french pianist sadly passed away last week…The Creator has a master plan.