The boundaries of
Sun Ra
's self-proclaimed "space
jazz
" underwent a transformation in the mid-'60s.
The Magic City
is an aural snapshot of that metamorphic process. Many enthusiasts and scholars consider this to be among
Ra
's most definitive studio recordings. Although the "city" in the album's title was thought to have been New York -- where the disc was recorded -- it is actually
's earthly birthplace of Birmingham, AL.
consists of four
free jazz
compositions: the album side-length title track,
"The Shadow World,"
"Abstract Eye,"
and
"Abstract I"
-- two variants of a common work. These pieces are essentially ensemble
improvisations
recorded live. Any direction from
, indicating the order of soloists for instance, would be given either through his playing or with hand signals. The title track begins with weaving distant and frenetic lines from
Ronnie Boykins
(bass) and
(piano, clavoline), connected by intermittent eruptions from
Roger Blank
(drums). All the while,
Marshall Allen
's dreamlike piccolo randomly maneuvers through the sonic haze. The piece also contains an ensemble onslaught that abruptly contrasts with everything experienced up through that point. In the wake of the innately earthbound
"Magic City"
are three comparatively shorter pieces with subtle undercurrents that return
to space motifs. For example, the importance of sonic contrast defines
"The Shadow World"
by juxtaposing the lightly churning bass and cymbal into some surreal keyboard interjections from
. ~ Lindsay Planer