Name: Prophet
Brand: Sun Ra

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LP-MH-8268

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2022-12-16

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Redeye

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

090771826817

Total Cap

1 / Black / LP

Artist

Sun Ra

Genre US

Jazz

Label US

Modern Harmonic

Sun Ra, born Herman Blount in Birmingham, Alabama in 1914, was an American Free-Jazz composer, pianist and band leader. He was a pioneer of free improvisation and modal jazz, as well as an early user of electronic keyboards and synthesizers. Sun Ra's music innovations and visionary experiences set him apart as a true musical innovator. He formed the Sun Ra Arkestra in the 1950s and continued to compose and perform until his death in 1993.Born and raised in Alabama, Sun Ra showed exceptional talent as a pianist from a young age. By the age of 11, he could sight-read and compose music. As a teenager, he performed with local jazz and R&amp;B bands before taking on his first full-time musical job leading the Sonny Blount Orchestra. In the mid-1930s, Sun Ra had a transformative experience during deep meditation where he claimed to have been transported to Saturn by beings from outer space who tasked him with spreading peace through music.

Modern Harmonic is an imprint of a renowned music label that was launched in 2016. With a focus on delivering exceptional musical experiences, Modern Harmonic brings together a diverse range of artists and genres to create unique and captivating sounds. From reissues of classic albums to groundbreaking new releases, this label is committed to providing music lovers with the highest quality recordings and memorable listening experiences.

With its extensive catalog, Modern Harmonic offers something for every music enthusiast. Whether you're a fan of jazz, rock, soul, or experimental sounds, you'll find an impressive selection of albums that showcase the best talent from around the world. Each release is carefully curated and remastered to ensure optimal sound quality, allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in the artist's vision.

As an authoritative voice in the music industry, Modern Harmonic has gained recognition for its commitment to preserving and celebrating musical history. By unearthing forgotten gems and shining a spotlight on overlooked artists, this label plays a vital role in keeping our cultural heritage alive. With their dedication to excellence and passion for great music, Modern Harmonic continues to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be at the forefront of contemporary music.

Featuring what may be his only recordings on the Prophet keyboard, these once lost performances expand the omniverse of Ra across a stellar set of lengthy cuts! All recorded in a single day and finally making their terrestrial debut! Includes notes from Ranthropologist Brother Cleve and two CD-only bonus tracks!

What happens when a Prophet meets a Prophet? The answer lies within these grooves. Amongst the hundreds of recordings issued by Sun Ra and his Arkestra, under their various guises, the majority were recorded in concert or in makeshift studios such as their early 1960s set-up at NYC's Choreographer's Workshop. Beyond those, roughly 22 albums were recorded at Variety Recording Studio in New York's Times Square. However, on August 25, 1986, Sun Ra and cohorts entered Mission Control, a state-of-the-art 24-track studio north of Boston, which was teeming with electronic keyboards and otherworldly sound generators. Nestled within that arsenal was a brand-new digital ultra keyboard — the Prophet VS ("Vector Synthesizer"). 

Of all the keyboards Ra played throughout his half-century career, the Prophet was one of the most sophisticated. There's no evidence that he had played either of the instrument's earlier incarnations, the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Prophet-10. Created using microprocessors, a then-new technological advance, under the auspices of engineer Dave Smith in 1978, the Prophet-5 revolutionized electronic music as the first polyphonic and, most importantly, programmable synthesizer. Ra was intrigued by the Prophet (surely by the instrument as well as by the name). Recorded during a single day, it's about time that these once lost performances have now been found. It was a joy and a thrill to be sitting at the console hearing this music for the first time, especially with my fingers on the faders and knobs of the mixing desk.&nbsp;

Prophet

Music US