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UP FOR AUCTION IS:


SUN RA
and
His Arkestra
"JAZZ IN SILHOUETTE"
White Label Promo
on
IMPULSE!
ABC PARAMOUNT RECORDS
ASD-9265

CONDITION:
VINYL : VG+
GATEFOLD COVER : VG+

Jazz in Silhouette

Jazz in Silhouette Studio album by Sun Ra and his Arkestra Released May 1959 Recorded El Saturn studio, Chicago
March 6, 1959[1] Genre Jazz Length 44:09 Label
Impulse!
Producer Alton Abraham Sun Ra and his Arkestra chronology The Nubians of Plutonia
(1958-59) Jazz in Silhouette
(1959) Sound Sun Pleasure!!
(1959)

Jazz in Silhouette is a jazz album by Sun Ra and His Arkestra. It was recorded on March 6, 1959 and released in May of the same year.[1] The album was recorded in Chicago during a session that also included the whole of Sound Sun Pleasure!! and Interstellar Low Ways from the album of the same name. The album is considered to be one of Ra's best from his Chicago period before veering off into 'their full-fledged explorations into the avant-garde' [2] that characterises the recordings made in New York in the 1960s.

Jazz in Silhouette stands as an overlooked masterpiece, a work that shows Ra not as a mere curiosity or backwater galaxy, but as a major creative force in the jazz universe, a center of gravity around which many of jazz’s major developments have orbited.This album simply inspires, no matter what perspective you adopt: rhythm, melody, ensemble or mood....Jazz in Silhouette shows Ra doing what he did like few others: looking at the past, present and future simultaneously while maintaining a unified musical direction.... what results is a captivating set of music that not only firmly establishes Ra in the jazz tradition, but actually puts him on its leading edge, pointing the direction forward.

—Mathew Wuethrich[3]

Recorded in 1959 at El Saturn Studio, Chicago, the album is one of three records that the Arkestra released in the 1950s - the other two being Jazz by Sun Ra and Super-Sonic Jazz. Originally released in a simple silk-screened cover credited to HP Corbissero,[1] the album had gained its sci-fi cover, 'of half-naked women teleporting themselves over one of the moons of Saturn', credited to 'Evans' [1] by the early 1960s.

The album was reissued by Impulse in 1974

When originally released, the album's sides were reversed, starting with Hours After at the beginning of side one, and ending side two with Ancient Aiethopia. Enlightenment in particular was to become a staple of the Arkestra's concerts, often featuring chanted lyrics.

• 5 External links

Reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic [4] Rolling Stone [5] All About Jazz (?)[6]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection" and awarded it a "crown" accolade, stating "This marvellous record will one day be recognised as one of the most important jazz records since the war."[7]

Track listing

12" Vinyl

Tracks written by Sun Ra, except where noted
Side A:

1. "Enlightenment" (Hobart Dotson, Ra) – (5:02)
2. "Saturn" – (3:37)
3. "Velvet" – (3:18)
4. "Ancient Aiethopia" – (9:04)

Side B:

1. "Hours After" (Ra, Turner) – (3:41)
2. "Horoscope" – (3:43)
3. "Images" – (3:48)
4. "Blues at Midnight" – (11:56)

For some years the record was believed to have been recorded in 1958, until the musicologist and discographer Robert Campbell uncovered the original tape box, clearly dated March 6, 1959. The album's release was mentioned a few months later in the Chicago Defender of June 9 (Sun Ra Discs Hit Album!).[1]

Musicians

• Sun Ra - Piano, celeste, gong
• Hobart Dotson - Trumpet
• Marshall Allen - Alto sax, flute
• James Spaulding - Alto sax, flute, percussion
• John Gilmore - Tenor sax, percussion
• Bo Bailey - Trombone
• Pat Patrick - Baritone sax, flute, percussion
• Charles Davis - Baritone sax, percussion
• Ronnie Boykins - Bass
• William Cochran - Drums

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Grading Records

 
   Grading Records
The following is the grading system first developed by Goldmine Records. Virtually all methods currently in use for the grading of records, is based in some way, shape, or form, on this system. Rather than offer some variation of the original system first developed by Goldmine, the Record Collector's Guild will display the Goldmine record grading method in it's entirety.

   Visual or Play Grading?
In an ideal world, every record would be played before it is graded. But the time involved makes it impractical for most dealers, and anyway, it's rare that you get a chance to hear a record before you buy through the mail. Some advertisers play-grade everything and say so. But unless otherwise noted, records are visually graded.

   How to Grade
Look at everything about a record. It's playing surface, it's label, it's edges...under a strong light. Then based on your overall impression give it a grade based on the following criteria:

• Mint (M)   Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed.(More on still sealed under "Other Considerations"). Should be used sparingly as a grade, If at all.
• Near Mint (NM or M-)   A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly)that no record is ever truly perfect.
  
  The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.
  
  An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like.
  
  Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.
  
  Near Mint is the highest price listed in all Goldmine price guides. Anything that exceeds this grade, in the opinion of both buyer and seller, is worth significantly more than the highest Goldmine book value.



• Very Good Plus (VG+)   Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value.
  
  A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.
  
  Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".
  
  The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.
  
  Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.
  
  In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.



• Very Good (VG)   Generally worth 25 percent of Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
  
  Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.
  
  Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list Very Good as the lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your guide when determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price a dealer will normally pay you for a Near Mint record.



• Good (G), Good Plus (G+)   Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white).
  
  A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.
  
  It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.



• Poor (P), Fair (F)   Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near Mint price. The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon.
  
  Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

   Other Considerations
Most dealers give a separate grade to the record and it's sleeve or cover. In an ad, a record's grade is listed first, followed by that of the sleeve or the cover.

• With Still Sealed (SS) records, let the buyer beware! Unless it'a a U.S. pressing from the last 10-15 years or so. It's too easy to reseal one. Yes, some legitimately never-opened LP's from the 1960's still exist. But if you're looking for a specific pressing, the only way you can know for sure is to open the record.

Also, European Imports are not factory-sealed, so if you see them advertised as sealed, someone other than the manufacturer sealed them.
© 1997 Goldmine Magazine
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