# CD review: Tyler Mitchell Octet & Marshall Allen – Sun Ra’s Journey 2022: Video, CD cover, Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2022/03/23/cd-review-tyler-mitchell-octet-marshall-allen-sun-ras-journey-2022-video-cd-cover-photos/
- Published: 2022-03-23T15:00:03+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Cellar Music Group, in partnership with the SmallsLive Foundation, is thrilled
to announce the March 18, 2022 release of _Sun Ra’s Journey Featuring Marshall Allen_.
Bass luminary Tyler Mitchell’s dynamic playing graced many stages alongside the 
legendary Sun Ra and Marshall Allen, and he can be heard on such iconic Sun Ra recordings
as Reflections in Blue and Hours After. Mitchell is responsible for this multigenerational
convergence of jazz greats, assembling this powerhouse small ensemble of musicians
to celebrate the life and works of the legendary Sun Ra.**

‘_**Sun Ra’s Journey**_’ captures potent and innovative reworkings of Sun Ra Arkestra
classics, recorded live at Smalls Jazz Club. Bassist Tyler Mitchell is joined by
tenor saxophonist **Chris Hemingway**, alto saxophonist **Nicoletta Manzini**, trumpeter**
Giveton Gelin**, pianist **Farid Barron**, drummer **Wayne Smith**, percussionists**
Ron McBee** and **Elson Nacimento**, and of course the inimitable **Marshall Allen**
who, at 97 years old, proves to be as spry and imaginative as ever.

Tyler Mitchell recounts his years with the Sun Ra Arkestra as a tenure with one 
of the great bands of the time. “When I played with Sun Ra,” Mitchell recalls, “
he was playing standards and doing Fletcher Henderson-type arrangements, years later
when I came back from Mexico, we played a lot more full arrangements of new, original
Sun Ra and Marshall Allen compositions. I always wanted to record this music in 
a small ensemble, really focusing on Marshall’s playing, and here, we finally had
our chance.”

[[

**Marshall Allen (Photo by William Brown)**

Demonstrating the tremendous power and reach of Sun Ra’s music and legacy, this 
diverse ensemble represents over four generations of musicians performing the work
of the great bandleader. Mitchell is joined by a stellar rhythm section of Sun Ra
Arkestra alumni including Wayne Smith on drums and Farid Barron on piano. Regarding
Smith’s steadfast drumwork, Mitchell notes “We worked together for the last ten 
years or so, I can always count on him to be there with me, whatever I’m playing.
He stays in the pocket and never sacrifices the groove.” On the topic of working
with the great Marshall Allen, Mitchell notes “Marshall is from the swing era, there’s
so much information to get from him, he puts fresh arrangements on tunes that he’s
played for years – he’s 97 years old and playing at the top of his game.”

The album begins with Sun Ra’s vibrant “**Care Free**”, the album’s single, which
will be released on February 4, 2022. From the very first downbeat, the listener
is transported to the ethereal dimension of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Mitchell masterfully
distills the Arkestra arrangements of many of these pieces down to an 8 piece ensemble,
paying particular attention to the interplay of the front line. The harmonic jabs
and intertwining of melody between Allen, Gellin and Manzini gives new life to these
compositions.

[[

**Tyler Mitchell (Photo by William Brown)**

“**La Dolce Vita**” is a composition born from improvisation between Mitchell and
saxophonist Nicoletta Manzini. The piece prominently features Allen on the EWI and
Manzini’s melodic musings on the alto saxophone. The theme of “**La Dolce Vita**”
is built up from the melody and was directed by Allen. Mitchell notes “Nicoletta
was a student of Marshall’s and I wanted to use her for this date, and she was instrumental
in putting it together with me.”  Mitchell begins “**Eddie Harris**” with a bass
solo. Mitchell initially heard this piece on a Clifford Jordan record. Here, the
piece is performed as a conversation between bass and alto sax. The melody of the
piece captures Eddie Harris’ way of including call-and-response within his phrasing.

“**New Dawn**” is a Marshall Allen composition written for the Sun Ra Arkestra album
Of Abstract Dreams. On the initial release, Allen recorded with strings. This take
of “**New Dawn**” features Allen on the EWI and Mitchell bowing the melody on his
bass. The group demonstrates its vibrancy and facility on the Sun Ra classics “**
Love in Outer Space**” and “**Fate in a Pleasant Mood**”.

Musing on his former bandleader Sun Ra, Tyler Mitchell notes “When a lot of people
think of Sun Ra, they think of free, abstract playing – These people forget about
his compositional contributions.” On Sun Ra’s Journey Featuring Marshall Allen, 
Mitchell shines a spotlight on Sun Ra’s compositional prowess, and on the continuous
innovation of his renowned bandmate Marshall Allen.

![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFjr2P3x_dyjQR6giXnMEcifAYAd1F_ijcBjKu-
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