Oakland elementary school kids orchestra interprets Sun Ra and become an Arkestra. It makes so much perfect sense its uncanny. The liner notes relate the story of a British jazz critic who once criticized Sun Ra’s music by saying “my 5 year old daughter could play that” to which Sun Ra conceded “yeah, but could she write it?”. The brilliant music of Sun Ra has always had an inimitable dissonance about it, going back to his early doo wop compositions even, much less his strange outer space explorations of his post 1960’s work where he pushed all definitions. His style is perfectly channeled by these school kids who are more concerned with creating than being pitch perfect and bland. This stuff is awesome. And to top it off some local heavy hitters guest, e.g. Terry Riley, David Slusser, Fred Frith!! (check the liner notes)

From the Bandcamp: You are currently contemplating a recording of myth and wonder. The Saga Of Padani presents the odyssey of 1990’s 4th, 5th & 6th grade students from novice musicians into an avant garde ensemble – an ensemble that engenders an array of sonic textures which never remain static or stagnant, but flow in a way that it’s always surprising, often startling and astonishing. On many of these imprecise, meditative, ethereal soundclouds of wonder and joy, the children were joined by such luminaries as Terry Riley, Fred Frith, Dave Slusser, and Dave Gordon, Tyrone Hill, & Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra! Among these 34 amazing transmissions of interplanetary improv pieces are a few Sun Ra covers, and 2 liner note sets of deep enlightenment.


1) (0:06) school bell 2)* (4:49) simple piano is joined by arkestra 3) (2:37) horns dominate, slow 4) (2:54) sax figures higher, blazing bad ass 5) (0:56) percussion, clanging 6) (4:03) skronky abstract 7)** (5:08) marching waltzing Arkestra – Love in Outer Space, as close to a “hit” Sun Ra had, with David Slusser and Terry Riley guesting 8) (0:53) simple woods, with the kids voices at the end 9) (0:37) guitars, organic, brief 10) (2:12) slow mindful trombone brass 11) (1:08) percussive 12) (5:18) strings, bow exchanges, natural dissonance, chill, winds appear strangely 13) (1:05) minimal horn duo 14) (0:40) strings bowed simple, natural dissonance 15)** (4:56) strings, full ensemble, bow exchanges, pitz, body noise, collage of sounds, awesome the school intercom interrupts this for a second! Then theres dialog at the end! 16) (1:49) organic creaks and flutes, trippy 17)* (2:25) abstract, with piano and birdlike sounds, avante percussion and dissonant arkestra, marching drums appear 18) (0:59) flutes, winds 19) (3:28) plucked strings, hypnotic 20) (1:18) horns, winds, minimal 21) (2:45) big brass and winds, “band warming up” type sound 22) (1:30) simple winds 23) (1:01) long notes, bow exchange type, strings 24)** (2:46) off time, off kilter, strings with piano, wth? 25)* (0:55) tuba/trombone? Skronks wonks, kinda funny 26) (1:12) strange slow phrased notes played in unison by whole arkestra 27) (1:52) recorder/flute notes, trippy 28) (1:18) whole arkestra, pensive 29) (1:50) flute and snare drum duo with intro 30) (1:37) brass and winds and drum 31) (2:05) sax minimal, abstract 32) (3:20) slow rhythmic march with vocals, childrens chorus type 33) (8:52) with Terry Riley – an india raga sorta, with a drone, and slow phrased vocs that include the children