(June 2021) Episode 336 of the “opus project” is SUN RA. Pianist, bandleader, poet, cosmic philosopher, and one of a kind. Mostly accompanied by his Arkestra, he provided a soundtrack to Afrofuturism through almost every kind of jazz — swing, bebop, free, avant-garde, experimental, fusion, solo piano. I like best the free jazz and space-ness of the late 60s and early 70s. Extremely prolific too; at 131 albums this was by far the biggest non-classical episode in the project. I wish I had seen him in concert, although I did see members of the Arkestra once.
Favorite album: Astro Black
Favorite song: Nuclear War
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 