Sun Ra Arkestra Announces New Album ‘Living Sky’ & Shares Single

Sun Ra Arkestra will release a new album, Living Sky, on October 7 through the Omni Sound label. The renowned jazz outfit led by musical director, 98-year-old alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, shared the single, “Somebody Else’s Idea.”

Living Sky was recorded at Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse SoundWorks on June 15, 2021. The follow-up to the band’s 2021 album Swirling features contributions from 19 musicians, with a string section among the participants.

The new album was commissioned by executive producer Ahmet Ulug, who recently launched Omni Sound. Ulug requested Marshall record music that was “Spiritual and hypnotic and to that effect down tempo, melodic and grooving…….from the kora to EVI [Electronic Valve Instrument]; ancient to the future. Music that is accessible and healing in the COVID era.”

“Somebody Else’s Idea” was written by Sun Ra, the collective’s namesake leader who left the planet in 1993. The song was originally recorded in 1955 and again in 1970 for the 1971 LP, My Brother The Wind, Vol II. The Living Sky recording is the first instrumental version.

“‘Somebody Else’s Idea’ is an affirmation that the world I live in is a world that I can change,” baritone saxophonist Knoel Scott stated. “The first part of change is not accepting the status, the so called status quo, in rejecting the status quo, I free myself to the possibilities which range amongst the infinite. It is our desire. There are those who listen to our music also embrace the possibilities which range beyond the limits of the impossible.”

The seven-track album also showcases the Sun Ra original composition “Night of the Living Sky” and the influential jazz pianist’s arrangement of Frédéric Chopin’s “Prelude in A Major.” Other tracks include a take on “Wish Upon a Star” from the classic animated Disney film Pinocchio, as well as Allen originals “Day of the Living Sky,” “Marshall’s Groove” and “Firefly.”

Listen to the new Sun Ra Arkestra recording of “Somebody Else’s Idea” from Living Sky below:

Living Sky Tracklist

1. Chopin
2. Somebody Else’s Idea
3. Day of the Living Sky
4. Marshall’s Groove
5. Night of the Living Sky
6. Firefly
7. Wish Upon A Star