if i like the arabic and south asian sounds in jazz artists like sun ra's music, what should i investigate?

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anyone know what arabic or south asian music i should look into?

titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:02 (twenty years ago)

With a few exceptions, I don't actually hear anything that sounds very Arabic in Sun Ra's music (although I happen to like Sun Ra and Arabic music a lot). I could link to my generic Arabic threads, or I could try to figure out what you want. How do you feel about vocally oriented music? Most of the Arabic music I like is heavy on the vocals. (Okay, so Sun Ra was just one example.)

I don't know anything much about South Asian music.

Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:02 (twenty years ago)

generic arabic threads would be great - thanks. the sun ra cosmic tones album has what sounds like arabic music to me at the start. or i could be wrong perhaps?

titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:39 (twenty years ago)

sublime frequencies, folkways, nonesuch...just go digging

bb (bbrz), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

Going backwards— get Sketches of Spain.

js (honestengine), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:58 (twenty years ago)

Ravi Shankar

o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:59 (twenty years ago)

x-post

Also, there are several threads about Indian music, if you search.

Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:03 (twenty years ago)

Look for things with wind instruments, basically (so ignore the oud thread).

Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:13 (twenty years ago)

I think there is an Arab/South Indian influence on Sun Ra's music. There are some obvious tracks like "India" which is inspired by that music. Then I think there are some influences just in terms of the improvisational raga style of e.g. Shankar on jazz & esp. free jazz in general. Then there are some modal influences, in the exotic vamps that Ra likes to use on many tracks. Even the name "Sun Ra" bespeaks a Middle Eastern influence. Also, the hand-made percussion on many Sun Ra albums have a non-Western sound.

o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:25 (twenty years ago)

Sun Ra's "exotic" influences tended to be cribbed from closer to home - Les Baxter, Martin Denny, etc. I don't think Sun Ra really had much access (at least early on) to indiginous South Asian/Arabic music.

Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:37 (twenty years ago)

thanks o.nate - anything i could look into that youd recommend?

titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, well, unfortunately my knowledge in this area is not the greatest. I wasn't kidding about the Shankar recommendation - I have this album called Two Raga Moods that combines Shankar with a tabla player and another percussion instrument, and they get a sort of nice spacey hash vibe going that wouldn't be entirely out of place on a Sun Ra album. Another recommendation - though it strays a bit geographically - would be an album of Burmese music called Sandaya: The Spellbinding Piano of Burma - some very out-there piano and vocal stuff that would slot nicely alongside Sun Ra tracks.

o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)


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