A more accessible side of Sun Ra
Geoffrey R. Balme | raleigh NC | 07/06/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is a good entry point for someone with only a mainstream feel for Jazz. It's a far less noisy and experimental record than what you might normally get from a random Sun Ra choice!
For my ears however, it's a bit too easy-listening. I recommend Night of the Purple Moon for something a little more rough, and featuring Sun Ra's eclectic and wild keyboard excursions.
For an artist with as many recordings out as this one, someone should have written a guide by now! :)"
A well-recorded piece of work any Jazz-cat could appreicate.
Sambson | North Carolina | 04/19/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"1977's SOME KIND OF BLUES... basically finds Ra & company doing old chestnuts like "I'll Get By" and a few originals in a mellow and laid back, near-lounge fashion. For fanatics, there's the rare recording of "My Favorite Things" which puts a spotlight on Coltrane's appreciation for Ra's most famous band member; tenor saxophonist John Gilmore. Then there's the loosely structured "Untitled" piece originally recorded for this album but left off; which helps break up the covers by drifting into staunch avante-garde territory. This is followed by an atonal version of "Nature Boy" and then back to the lounge with "Tenderly"; though no cover escapes without a glissando exploding microtonal piano solo from Ra. "Black Magic" is laid down atop some rather worldly percussion in the loosest groove of the set; possibly making it the subtle highlight here. Usually only Ran fanatics relish the wacky synth and organ choices Ra is famous for; so this disc being almost exclusively acoustic piano would be quite pleasing for the standard Jazz aficionado. The title track begins with a minute and a half of Ra's chiruping synth over an Arabic figure that quickly fades into a fine spontaneous sounding original (though probably composed, knowing Ra). This particular re-issue has two tracks from a '73 home sessions (two versions of "I'll Get By") featuring Ra on synth and with one focusing on trumpeter Akh Tal Ebah, unlike the tenor and piano focus of the rest of this material. Overall SOME KIND OF BLUES... has most of the elements one would expect from Ra and the Arkestra, just in a lower-key mode than usual. Perhaps a nice breather between the terror of ATLANTIS and the wild-eyed OUTER REACH INTENSITY ENERGY. SOME KIND OF BLUES... is more akin to the mood of his NUCLEAR WAR album; though lacking the "Big Band" sound of that set. In fact, for a band who often drifted upwards of 15 members and only down to a small group on a handful of recordings (out of 130+ albums), this 9 member grouping plays to subtlety over bombast. A well-recorded piece of work any Jazz-cat could appreicate."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1