Solar: Sun Ra in Brasil (Red Hot + Ra)

One of the most enigmatic figures in jazz, whose musical legacy and Afrofuturistic mythology stretched way beyond genre limits, this Brazilian celebration of the American composer, keyboardist, bandleader and poet, Sun Ra, presents a magnificent reimagining of his music and poetry, brought to life by an outstanding cast of Brazilian and American artists. This is the second volume in the Red Hot + Ra series – following Red Hot & Ra: Nuclear War – and is dedicated to promoting climate justice and equality. Album opener ‘Astroblack Orunmilá’ sees the coming together of the Salvador-based Orquestra Afrosinfônica and vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, in a stunning version that pulses with the traditions of Congo, Maracatu and Blocos Afro. A joyous recasting of ‘Nature’s God (Sun Ra Sam Ba)’ by multi-instrumentalist Munir Hossn, drummers from Aguidavi do Jêje and vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello depicts Ra dancing samba in the Brazilian rainforest. Two of the album’s eight tracks feature poems by Ra, ‘O Código (Black Prince Charming) ’ and ‘Eu Sou um Instrumento (I Am an Instrument)’, performed in Portuguese by actor Fabrico Boliveira, with telling contributions from the Bahian musician Edbrass Brasil and the wondrous Horn, respectively.