Sun Ra Arkestra - Zurich 2009

This was one hell of a great experience! Not sure yet how well it translates to a recording, but you can check that out yourself!

My antique MD-recorder stopped its duties halway through the second set (which means we won't hear the awesome alto feature - for he who likely is Knoel Scott - on "Body and Soul", a pity, but I can't help it). See my notes below for more info...

Please help with the identification of the musicians and with the setlist!

First up, my notes:


Notes:

I recorded from the first row, left of the center (in front of Marshall Allen, to his left was the piano, to the right the other reeds (l.t.r.: ts/as/bari). In the second row to the right were tp/tb, in the back row g/d/perc
The first set I recorded in mono.
As more than half of my MD was full by the time of the break, I switched to LP4 for the second set, but of then the problems began... the left channel of the recording is dead, the beginning is marred by dropouts, and halway into the second set, for whatever reason, my recording stopped... and we're missing a glorious "Body and Soul" performed by the alto player that is not Allen... pity!
Even though I didn't change the levels, the second set was recorded too loud and seems to be clipped.
Some dropouts towards the end of Set1#8... and there may be some dropouts I haven't noticed and hence not deleted, sorry.

Bassist Juni Booth got lost in space, bass duties were assumed by the pianist.

As for the remaining line-up:
Allen is of course confirmed, so are Nascimento and Yah Yah (the former answered my question as to who the great tenor sax player was).
The others are taken from the flyer, which listed two trumpet players and also Charles Davis who didn't make the tour according to Elson. Further, Art Jenkins (voc/perc) was also listed.

I took two photos, not good ones, but they as well as my photos (no scanner at home) of the flyer are included.

Marshall Allen took most of the alto solos, his are the free ones, while the other alto sax player did some marvellous boppish soloing.
Allen plays most of the flute solo parts, but some are played by the baritone sax player (Yah Yah only played flute in ensembles).
Allen plays clarinet in the second set only.

The musicians left the stage playing at the end of the first set (with Yah Yah staying behind and leaving last), and entered playing at the beginning of the first set. In #8 of the first set, bari/tb/Yah Yah (perc) paraded through the audience.

As for the band, some dimers were very helpful and the setlist below is improved compared to the one you'll get in the tags of the files!

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :

Sun Ra Arkestra
directed by Marshall Allen
Zürich (Switzerland), Rote Fabrik, Aktionshalle
March 21, 2009

Marshall Allen - alto sax, flute, clarinet, EWI, percussion, vocals
Knoel Scott - alto sax, vocals, bongos, dance
Yah Yah Abdul-Majid - tenor sax, flute, congas, percussion, vocals
Rey Scott - baritone sax, flute
Fred Adams - trumpet, vocals, percussion
Dave Davis - trombone, vocals
Farid Baron - piano, keys
most likely Dave Hotep - guitar, percussion
prob. Wayne Anthony Smith Jr. - drums
Elson Nascimento - percussion

CD1/Set1/79:06 - complete
1. unknown (5:54)
2. unknown (17:42)
3. unknown [All You Gotta Do Is Dream?] (9:00) [voc & alto solo by Scott]
4. unknown (4:19)
5. unknown (6:28)
6. piano improvisation (3:04)
7. unknown (5:19)
8. unknown (10:16) +
9. unknown (4:24) +
10. unknown (6:54) +
11. unknown [If We Came from Nowhere Here, Why Can't We Go Somewhere There] (3:31)
12. We Travel the Spaceways (2:10) [band slowly walking out]

CD2/Set2/39:28 - incomplete
1. unknown (9:01) +
2. Somebody Loves Me (11:54)
3. unkown (13:05)
4. Yesterdays (5:25) [inc, cut]

+) these tracks have some hickups from dropouts I deleted

TT: 118:34

Sound: mono, Set 1: A-, Set 2: A-/B+ (see notes)
Source: audience recording, front row, left of centre
Lineage: crappy Sony mic > MD > analogue to HD > Cool Edit Pro > FLAC (8,asb,verify)
Recorded, transferred & shared on dime by ubu (March 21/22, 2009)