The legend of Sun Ra burns brightly. One of the most idiosyncratic composers in the history of jazz, his blend of big band swing and space fuelled mysticism has preserved him a place in the hearts of a fabulously varied audience. Paying tribute to such a revered artist is a risky business and it takes a very special performance indeed to carry it off.
Jerry Dammers, one time Special, carried it off with aplomb, a sixteen piece band augmented by a range of space suited dummies, mummies and what looked like a Bond bug, suspended precariously, high above the tympanist, swung like the suburbs in the seventies and in places rocked like a bastard – standout performances from drummer Patrick Illingworth in particular confirmed that this is no flash in the pan, the material was performed with real verve, vigour and vim. An extraordinary version of Dammers own “Ghost Town” stole the show, but the Sun Ra covers “Egypt Strut” and “We’re Gonna Unmask the Batman” showcased the band’s impeccable solo credentials as well as an irresistable rhythmic punch – best show of the year so far.
