Sun Ra - Jazz by Sun Ra [Spain Import]

Long before the cosmic costumes and free-jazz freakouts, Sun Ra led a sharp, swinging Chicago big band, and Jazz by Sun Ra captures it on a limited 180 gram Spain import with a bonus track.

Recorded in Chicago in 1956 and released the following year on Tom Wilson's short-lived Transition label, with Wilson producing, it was the Arkestra's first properly distributed LP. The lineup already featured future cornerstones of the band, including saxophonists John Gilmore and Pat Patrick, alongside trombonist Julian Priester and bassist Richard Evans.

The music balances hard bop muscle with the exotic colours and odd harmonic turns that would become Ra's calling card. "Brainville" and "Call for All Demons" show off his knack for crisp, unusual ensemble writing, while "Street Named Hell" leans into a bluesy, shadowy mood. "Lullaby for Realville", written by Evans, offers a gentle, dreamy contrast to the more restless pieces.

Ra's piano and Hammond organ tint everything with an otherworldly glow, hinting at the interplanetary adventures that would define the decades still to come.

Later reissued under the title Sun Song, this is an essential piece of the Sun Ra puzzle and a great entry point for listeners who prefer their space-age jazz with a steady, finger-snapping swing.