SUN RA ARCHESTRA — Swirling (2020) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The planets align as the mighty Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, are releasing their first studio album in over twenty years, ‘Swirling’.

“We truly hope that this recording brings much joy to a planet which is so deeply in need of a spirit sound and vibration,” states saxophonist Knoel Scott. “We hope it contributes to a change in the ominous direction of man’s journey through the cosmos.”

“This new release is the Arkestra’s love offering to the world,” concludes Marshall Allen. “Beta music for a better world.”

Recorded at Rittenhouse Soundworks in Philadelphia, the new recording represents the continuation of a heartfelt rebirth of the Arkestra under Allen’s guidance since Sun Ra left the planet in 1993, gaining new generations of followers from their regular touring across the globe. With a big band line-up featuring long-standing Arkestra members including Danny Ray Thompson (RIP), Michael Ray, Vincent Chancey, Knoel Scott, Cecil Brooks, Atakatune (RIP), Elson Nascimento and Tyler Mitchell, the album is a full-blooded celebration of Sun Ra’s legacy. bandcamp.com 
Tracklist :
1.           Satellites Are Spinning / Lights On A Satellite 8:00
Written-By – Sun Ra
2.        Seductive Fantasy 11:49
Written-By – Sun Ra
3.        Swirling 7:42
Written-By – Marshall Allen
4.        Angels And Demons At Play 7:05
Written-By – Sun Ra
5.        Sea Of Darkness / Darkness 5:06
Written-By – Sun Ra
6.        Rocket No. 9 5:00
Written-By – Sun Ra
7.        Astro Black 4:51
Written-By – Sun Ra
8.        Infinity / I'll Wait For You 9:18
Written-By – Sun Ra
9.        Sunology 4:25
Written-By – Sun Ra
10.        Door Of The Cosmos / Say 7:29
Written-By – Sun Ra
Credits : 
Alto Saxophone – Knoel Scott
Alto Saxophone, Electronic Valve Instrument [EVI] – Marshall Allen
Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Danny Ray Thompson
Bass – Tyler Mitchell
Congas – Stanley "Atakatune" Morgan
Cover [Original Cover Artwork By] – Lewis Heriz
Directed By [Under The Direction Of] – Marshall Allen
Drums – Wayne Anthony Smith, Jr.
French Horn – Vincent Chancey
Guitar – Dave Hotep
Performer – Sun Ra Arkestra
Piano – Farid Barron
Surdo [Surdo Drums], Percussion – Elson Nascimento
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – James Stewart 
Text By [Poem "Calling Planet Earth", August 1990] – Sun Ra
Trombone, Vocals – Dave Davis 
Trumpet – Cecil Brooks, Michael Ray
Vocals, Violin – Tara Middleton 

ARTHUR BLYTHE — Blythe Byte (2001) FLAC (tracks), lossless

In 2001 Savant Records brought out Blythe Byte, an album by alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe. For his second Savant release and sequel to the excellent live album Spirits in the Field, Blythe chose pianist John Hicks, drummer Cecil Brooks III, and Dwayne Dolphin, the Oakland-cum-Pittsburgh bassist who came up working with Wynton Marsalis and Hank Crawford. What resulted was a well-balanced assortment blending three original compositions, an old-fashioned spiritual, the Latin pop tune "Besame Mucho," Billy Strayhorn's reflective "My Little Brown Book," John Coltrane's "Naima," and three exquisite airs by Thelonious Monk. As would be the case with his 2003 Savant release Exhale, the title track on Blythe Byte is a miniature lasting less than 60 seconds. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.    Hardly    7:23
 Arthur Blythe 
2.    Besame Mucho    5:43
 Sunny Skylar / Consuelo Velázquez 
3.    Blue Monk    6:06
 Thelonious Monk 
4.    Light Blue    4:59
 Thelonious Monk 
5.    And One    6:19
 Dwayne Dolphin 
6.    My Little Brown Book    6:12
 Billy Strayhorn 
7.    Naima    6:07
 John Coltrane 
8.    Ruby My Dear    5:56
 Thelonious Monk 
9.    Blythe Byte    0:39
 Arthur Blythe 
10.    What A Friend We Have In Jesus    4:29
 Charles C. Converse / Joseph Scriven 
Credits : 
Alto Saxophone, Producer [Associate] – Arthur Blythe
Bass – Dwayne Dolphin (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7)
Drums, Producer – Cecil Brooks III (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7)
Piano – John Hicks (tracks: 1 to 8, 10)

ARTHUR BLYTHE — Focus (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Altoist Arthur Blythe has always loved to play in unusual instrumental settings. His soulful sound and adventurous style are quite flexible and they sound right at home in this set with Gust William Tsilis on bass marimba, Bob Stewart on tuba, and drummer Cecil Brooks III. The performances are lyrical and often melodic, but searching and unpredictable. Blythe contributed eight of the dozen songs (including "Opus 1," "My Son Ra," and "Bubbles") in addition to digging into "C.C. Rider," Thelonious Monk's obscure "Children's Song," "Stuffy Turkey," and "In a Sentimental Mood." In grooves ranging from New Orleans to R&B-ish, along with freer explorations, this is a continually colorful set of high-quality music. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Opus 1    6:49
 Arthur Blythe / Sy Oliver 
2.    Children's Song aka That Old Man  3:15
 T. Monk
3.    C.C. Rider    4:54
 John Hurt 
4.    Once Again    2:49
 Arthur Blythe 
5.    My Son Ra    8:05
 Arthur Blythe 
6.    Hip Toe    6:17
 Arthur Blythe 
7.    Night Song    6:46
 Arthur Blythe / Charles Strouse 
8.    Bubbles    3:13
 Arthur Blythe 
9.    Stuffy Turkey  4:57
 T. Monk
10.    Night Creeper    5:15
 Arthur Blythe 
11.    In A Sentimental Mood  7:54
 E. Ellington
12.    Focus    1:16
 Arthur Blythe / Tadd Dameron 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Co-producer [Associate Producer] – Arthur Blythe
Drums, Producer – Cecil Brooks III
Marimba – Gust William Tsilis
Tuba – Bob Stewart

ARTHUR BLYTHE — Exale (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Arthur Blythe's alto saxophone was first heard in combination with Bob Stewart's tuba during the late '70s on Blythe's earliest albums Metamorphosis, The Grip, and Bush Baby. Exhale, which was released by Savant Records in 2003, was something like the 14th Blythe album to feature Stewart on the big horn. Stewart's pre-Blythe adventures included dates with Taj Mahal, the JCOA, Charles Mingus, Lester Bowie, Sam Rivers, and Gil Evans. His muscular bass clef virtuosity has always proven peculiarly well suited for interaction with Blythe's soulful soaring alto sax. The other half of the unit responsible for Exhale consisted of pianist John Hicks and drummer Cecil Brooks III. In addition to several tracks designated as movements of "Exhaust Suite" (with Hicks crossing over to Hammond organ), the group revisited a fine bouquet of standards by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Forrest, and Nat King Cole. This enjoyable album's playlist also includes a glowing interpretation of "Just Friends" and, best of all perhaps, a pair of extended outings on "All Blues" and "Equinox." As was the case with his 2001 Savant release Blythe Byte, the title track on Exhale is a miniature that takes less than one minute to experience. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.    Cousin Mary 5:18
Written-By – John Coltrane
2.    Come Sunday 6:12
Written-By – Duke Ellington
Exhaust Suite    (11:07)
3.    Nonette 3:16
Written-By – Bob Stewart
4.    Surrender 4:10
Written-By – Arthur Blythe
5.    LC 1:15
Written-By – Arthur Blythe
6.    Phase Two 2:26
Written-By – Arthur Blythe
7.    Night Train 6:10
Written-By – Jimmy Forrest, Oscar Washington
8.    7/4 Thang 3:51
Written-By – Arthur Blythe
9.    Equinox 6:06
Written-By – John Coltrane
10.    Just Friends 4:25
Written-By – John Klenner, Sam M. Lewi
11.    CJ 5:26
Written-By – Bob Stewart
12.    All Blues 4:25
Written-By – Miles Davis
13.    Straighten Up And Fly Right 4:15
Written-By – Irving Mills, Nat King Cole
14.    Exhale 0:50
Written-By – Arthur Blythe
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Producer [Associate] – Arthur Blythe
Drums, Producer – Cecil Brooks III
Piano, Organ [B3] (tracks: 3, 6) – John Hicks 
Tuba – Bob Stewart