The Sun Ra Arkestra

First and foremost, this is a documentary about the Arkestra, but it's one whose presentation reflects the multilevel approach Sun Ra had to music and life in general. Jump cuts and split screens dot the visual stream with home movie footage from the Arkestra in Egypt during the '70s to the Arkestra of today led by Marshall Allen. Director Ephraim Asili wisely divides the 40 minutes into distinct chapters, illustrating each with band interviews, live footage, visuals of planets and NASA launches, and his voice quoting writings from Ra. The effect is cohesive and vibrant, bringing the gentle, funky and wholly human universe of Sun Ra into a surprisingly contemporary focus. The editing is well done and brings clarity to the narrative, so one doesn't get lost in the stream of images, and the footage is interesting and fun to watch. While Sun Ra is no longer on the planet, this DVD doc sketches the possibility of a continuance of the spirit of Ra with the current Arkestra and more importantly, ourselves.