The Magic City

work by Sun Ra

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June 30, 2026

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The Magic City is a significant album by Sun Ra, a jazz composer and keyboardist known for his free jazz big band and theatrical performances. Released in 1965/66, it is considered one of his most important free jazz recordings. Sun Ra, who claimed to be from Saturn, led his Arkestra, a band that incorporated dancers and fantastical costumes inspired by ancient Egypt and the space age. His music was characterized by innovative instrumentation, including instruments rare in jazz at the time, and he was a pioneer in using the synthesizer in jazz. Sun Ra is also recognized as an exemplar of Afrofuturism, a movement that blends elements of science fiction, history, and fantasy with the cultures of the African diaspora.12

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Sun Ra
Among his free jazz recordings, The Magic City (1965/66) is the most significant. The Arkestra, which included dancers, dressed in fantastical costumes inspired by ancient Egyptian attire and the space age, and Sun Ra conducted while wearing flowing robes and futuristic helmets. He was highly regarded for his atonal solos…
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Among his free jazz recordings, The Magic City (1965/66) is the most significant. The Arkestra, which included dancers, dressed in fantastical costumes inspired by ancient Egyptian attire and the space age, and Sun Ra conducted while wearing flowing robes and futuristic helmets. He was highly regarded for his atonal solos…
Read More