Back catalogue: Jazz

Review: Strut rings in the holiday season with a special reissue of The Qualities' rare 1961 single 'It's Christmas Time' b/w 'Happy New Year To You!', originally released on Sun Ra's Saturn label. This mysterious vocal harmony group, guided by the visionary Sun Ra, captures a unique moment in music history. Likely recorded around 1956, the festive tracks showcase Sun Ra's influence, blending jazz and harmony group experimentation. Remastered and restored, this exclusive 7" features a new picture sleeve designed by Liam Large, making it a collector's item that celebrates both the holidays and Sun Ra's boundary-pushing legacy.

Review: There have been plenty of retrospectives on the absolutely essential work of Sun Ra and his Arkestra over the years, but trust Strut to go that bit deeper when they elected to focus on the Sun God himself. As the extensive title suggests, this collection places the focus on proceedings in the hands of Marshall Allen, the longest serving member of the Arkestra and current band leader. The results mean In The Orbit Of Ra feels a whole lot more personal and indepth, with over 25 years worth of Sun Ra-lead music documented. It's all been fully remastered from the original tapes and is pretty much the most conclusive introduction to the work of this pioneer one could hope for. In addition to the 13 track double vinyl set, this release also includes the double CD edition which includes a further 7 Ra gems!

Review: Given the sheer amount of material released by spiritual jazz maestro Sun Ra over the years - 120-odd albums and counting - it can be hard for new listeners to know where to start. Gilles Peterson and Strut have come up with an answer: a two-LP Sun Ra primer, which casts a critical eye over his whole career in order to gather together some stone cold aural gold. Peterson has long been a Sun Ra obsessive, and does a superb job in representing the different sides of his career. Check, for example, the doo-wop sweetness of "Dreaming" (a 1955 collaboration with The Cosmic Rays), the African influenced weirdness of "Adventure Equation", and the outer-space brilliance of "Cluster of Galaxies".

Review: This record is the end of five years of hard work by the Strut label and Art Yard. It is a first-ever Detroit Artists Workshop Retrospective across two slabs of vinyl with jazz legends like Donald Byrd, Bennie Maupin, Yusef Lateef and more all making the cut. The music comes from lots of hard research in the archives of author, DJ and activist John Sinclair. The end product is this glorious retrospective of the influential Detroit Artists Workshop with tunes that span from 1965 to 1978.

Review: Strut's 2024 reissue of Sun Ra's Lanquidity, an iconic 1978 release, celebrated for its fusion of cosmic jazz and avant-garde experimentation. Recorded in a single night at Bob Blank's studio, the album shows off the rich Arkestra's blend of sound with eight horns, four percussionists, and electric guitars.'There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)' stands out as a hypnotic, dream-like piece that subverts traditional forms with its blend of ambient and vibrant passages. The album is a standout in Ra's extensive catalog for its fusion-inspired, freeform approach. The single LP version includes five tracks, akin to the original. Starting with the smooth, cosmic exploration of 'Lanquidity,' is like a celestial mapping akin to an Ancient Egyptian stargazing ceremony. 'Where Pathways Meet' follows with a funky, march-like rhythm reminiscent of a Pharaoh's pep-talk, showcasing Ra's unique fusion of Egyptian motifs and jazz. The groove deepens with 'That's How I Feel,' featuring reflective trumpet lines and intricate solos. 'Twin Stars Of Thence' highlights Richard Williams' celebrated bass with its funky, elastic rhythm. The album closes with the haunting 'There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of),' a piece steeped in space music that poet Mama Nzinga likened to a journey through the essence of light and deep space.

Review: Strut Records' release of Inside the Light World: Sun Ra Meets the OVC unveils hidden gems from the legendary Sun Ra's repertoire. Recorded in 1986 at Mission Control studios, these tracks, originally spontaneous and never intended for formal release, offer a glimpse into Sun Ra's cosmic genius. The OVC, or Outer Space Visual Communicator, adds a unique dimension to the music, casting kaleidoscopic patterns onto a suspended screen above the performers. Developed by technological innovator Bill Sebastian, the OVC creates a keyboard-driven light show that enhances Sun Ra's already mesmerising performances. Thanks to Sebastian and Irwin Chusid's efforts, along with mix engineers Sean Slade and Brother Cleve, the session tapes were restored and pieced together, resulting in one of Sun Ra's finest releases. Sebastian's personal connection to Sun Ra's music, stemming from a transformative live show experience in the early 1970s, adds depth to the album's narrative. This CD package includes extensive liner notes and an insightful interview with Sebastian, offering fans a comprehensive look into this captivating collaboration. Inside the Light World is a release you need to check whether you are a fan or new to his work.

Review: Shut has been busy with a great series of reissues of Sun Ra's historic recordings in Egypt. All good things must come to an end, though, and so it does with The Sun Ra Arkestra meets Salah Ragab in Egypt which was recorded with help from the Cairo Jazz Band and first put out back in 1983 on Greek label Praxis. The Arkestra first met Salah Ragab at the home of Goethe Institut ex-pat Hartmut Geerken when they toured the island in December 1971 and later bonded again in 1983. It was then that they got together for these recordings where they played Ragab compositions, 'Egypt Strut' and 'Dawn' amongst others.