The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - Other Voices, Other Blues (2014)

Other Voices, Other Blues is one of several albums done with this basic lineup in January of 1978. This album is billed to the Sun Ra Quartet, but it sounds like there's a bass player present on at least some of the cuts (it could be Ra, but he'd need three hands). As the title implies, this album shows listeners the many sides of the blues and demonstrates what some highly individual players can do with the blues. "Bridge on the Ninth Dimension" starts as a slow, spooky synth blues that morphs into an up-tempo freak-out session about halfway through. This is really the only truly "out" portion of the album, although the blues get decidedly weird on "Rebellion." Sun Ra plays piano on "One Day in Rome," "Along the Tiber," and "Sun, Sky and Wind" and synthesizer on the others. This is really a great setting to hear what these guys can do as soloists, with the easy-to-follow changes of the blues and stripped-down ensemble. Luqman Ali's drumming is the anchor, and everyone gets plenty of solo space. Fans of John Gilmore should surely seek this out, but Michael Ray and Sun Ra are also simply fantastic. As with other Horo releases, this will be hard to find, but well worth it.

Tracklist:
1.01 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - Springtime and Summer Idyll (13:29)
1.02 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - One Day in Rome (5:28)
1.03 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - Bridge on the Ninth Dimension (14:30)
1.04 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - Along the Tiber (4:05)
1.05 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - Sun, Sky, and Wind (7:30)
1.06 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - Rebellion (12:22)
1.07 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - Constellation (9:20)
1.08 - The Sun Ra Quartet feat. John Gilmore - The Mystery of Being (10:23)