Mayan Temples is an album by the American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Sun Ra, recorded in 1990.[1][2] Released on the Black Saint label,[3] it was Sun Ra's final studio recording as a leader.
| Mayan Temples | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Sun Ra Arkestra | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | July 24 & 25, 1990 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 79:03 | |||
| Label | Black Saint | |||
| Producer | Giovanni Bonandrini | |||
| Sun Ra chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [5] |
The Omaha World-Herald wrote that the album moves "through swing and be-bop band re-creations, African rhythm workouts and outer-space weirdness."[6]
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "One of the finest Sun Ra recordings from his final years, this effort is particularly recommended due to the many Ra keyboard solos and John Gilmore features... Overall, this is a fine all-around studio set."[4]
Track listing
edit- All compositions by Sun Ra except as indicated
- "Dance of the Language Barrier" – 3:58
- "Bygone" – 5:15
- "Disciple No. 1" – 4:57
- "Alone Together" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 7:02
- "Prelude to Stargazers" – 5:17
- "Mayan Temples" – 7:40
- "I'll Never Be The Same" (Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck, Frank Signorelli) – 4:57
- "Stardust from Tomorrow" – 3:38
- "El Is a Sound of Joy" – 5:26
- "Time After Time" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) – 4:21
- "Opus in Springtime" – 6:41
- "Theme of the Stargazers" – 14:09
- "Sunset on the Nile" – 5:42
- Recorded at Mondial Sound, Milano, Italy on July 24 & 25, 1990.
Personnel
edit- Sun Ra – piano, synthesizer
- Michael Ray, Ahmed Abdullah – trumpet, vocals
- Tyrone Hill – trombone
- Marshall Allen – alto saxophone, flute
- Noel Scott – alto saxophone
- John Gilmore – tenor saxophone, timbales
- James Jacson – bassoon, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum
- Ronald Wilson – tenor saxophone
- Carl LeBlanc – electric guitar
- Jothan Callins – bass, electric bass
- Clifford Barbaro, Earl "Buster" Smith – drums
- Ron McBee – congas, percussion
- Jorge Silva – percussion
- Elson Nascimento – surdo, percussion
- June Tyson – vocals
References
edit- ^ McNally, Owen (June 24, 1992). "The Arkestra's evolution on CD". Hartford Courant. p. C2.
- ^ Booth, Garry (July 25, 1992). "The Sun that never sets". Financial Times. p. XVIII.
- ^ Sun Ra discography accessed July 21, 2010
- ^ a b Yanow, S. AllMusic Review accessed July 21, 2010
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1361. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^ Smith, Will (July 12, 1992). "Fare Varied on Italian-Based Labels". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 11.