Purple Night

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Purple Night is a jazz album by free jazz pioneer Sun Ra.

The album was the second in a short-term recording deal with major label A&M Records, who had a "Modern Masters Jazz Series" imprint going at the time. Sun Ra's profile had risen considerably in recent years, partially because of the support given to the master in interviews by avant-garde alternative rock band Sonic Youth around that time, who had both named him as an influence and opened shows for Ra and his Arkestra.

The album was recorded in one marathon session at BMG Studios in New York City, using a 22-piece group that included several Arkestra members or veterans, including three drummers and two bass players (one on upright bass and another on electric bass), plus fellow free jazz musician Don Cherry, who contributed his trademark pocket trumpet work. During the session, Cherry sat at the right of Ra and his piano.

Seven tracks were used for the Purple Night album; the remainder of the master multi-track tapes were given to Sun Ra and his manager Alton Abraham for future release on their own after the A&M deal concluded; much of these recordings were released three years later by Rounder Records on the album Somewhere Else, released shortly before Sun Ra's death. Currently the Purple Night album is out of print and the copyright on the original album is still believed to be held by A&M's current owner, Universal Music.

Track listing

1. "Journey Towards Stars" – 3:44
2. "Friendly Galaxy" – 7:43
3. "Love in Outer Space" – 7:12
4. "Stars Fell On Alabama" – 10:27
5. "Of Invisible Them" – 19:08
6. "Neverness" – 13:16
7. "Purple Night Blues" – 4:02

All compositions composed by Sun Ra and published by Enterplanetary Koncepts (BMI), except "Stars Fell On Alabama" written by Mitchell Parrish and Frank Perkins and published by Mills Music Inc./Everbright Music Co. (ASCAP). All arrangements by Sun Ra.

Musicians

• Sun Ra - piano, synthesiser, vocal
• Don Cherry - pocket trumpet
• June Tyson - violin, voice
• Fred Adams - trumpet
• Michael Ray - trumpet, voice
• Ahmed Abdullah - trumpet
• Al Evans - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Tyrone Hill - trombone
• Julian Priester - trombone
• Reynold Scott - baritone sax, flute
• James Spaulding - alto sax, flute
• Marshall Allen - alto sax, flute, percussion
• John Gilmore - tenor sax, percussion, voice
• James Jackson - bassoon, African drum
• Earl C. "Buster" Smith - drums
• Eric "Samarai" Walker - drums
• Thomas "Bugs" Hunter - drums (misidentified in the sleeve notes as Thomas "Bugs" Henderson)
• Elson Nascimento - surdo, percussion
• Jorge Silva - repinique, percussion
• Rollo Radford - electric bass
• John Ore - acoustic bass

Production personnel

• John Snyder - producer
• Steve Ralbovsky - executive producer