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Sun Ra insisted that he had travelled to Earth from Saturn and in 1993 he returned. The group is now directed by alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, a former pupil of Sun Ra who joined the Arkestra in 1958. Marshall pioneered the Free Jazz movement of the early sixties, having remarkable influence on the key voices in the avant-guarde. He has featured on over 200 Sun Ra recordings and has collaborated with Phish, Sonic Youth, Digable Planets and Medeski, Martin & Wood.
Marshall continues to study, research and develop Sun Ra’s musical precepts and has led the Sun Ra Arkestra into a dimension beyond that of a mere ‘ghost’ band. Still mixing 1930s swing, wild free-jazz and synth electronics, Marshall has written fresh arrangements of Sun Ra’s music as well as composing new music and arrangements for the Arkestra. Thus the big-band tradition is kept alive as Marshall now leads the ten strong band of musicians.
