WESTERN FRONT – Cosmic Potential: An Open Discussion on the Writings of Sun Ra

American jazz musician Sun Ra in a publicity photo promoting the 1973 reissue of his album *The Magic City* through Impulse! Records and ABC/Dunhill Records. The keyboard appears to be a Farfisa Professional 222 combo organ.

Join Darius Jones and Amirtha Kidambi for an open discussion about their collaborative project, Angels and Demons, for which they perform musical adaptations of cosmological writings by iconic composer and bandleader Sun Ra.

The artists invite you to witness their process of adaptation, including speaking to the questions of why Sun Ra? And why his poetry and philosophical writing? Jones and Kidambi also welcome you to actively participate by sharing your own experiences of and interest in Sun Ra. In particular audience members who attended the Angels and Demons performance or Sun Ra’s legendary appearance at the Commodore Ballroom in 1990, and poets, visual artists, and musician interested in Sun Ra’s writing, are highly encouraged to attend.

Refreshments will be provided.

About the Artists

Darius Jones is a saxophonist and composer based in New York. He embraces individuality and innovation in the tradition of African-American music, and has released a string of diverse recordings featuring music and images evocative of Black Futurism. Jones’ music is a confrontation against apathy and ego, hoping to inspire authenticity that compels us to be better humans. In addition to collaborating with Amirtha Kidambi as the duo Angels and Demons, Jones has collaborated with artists including Gerald Cleaver, Oliver Lake, William Parker, Andrew Cyrille, Craig Taborn, Wet Ink Ensemble, Jason Moran, Trevor Dunn, Dave Burrell, Eric Revis, Matthew Shipp, Marshall Allen, Nasheet Waits, Branford Marsalis, Travis Laplante, Fay Victor, Cooper-Moore, Matana Roberts, JD Allen, Matthew Shipp, Nicole Mitchell, Georgia Ann Muldrow, and many more.

Amirtha Kidambi is a vocalist and composer living in New York. She is invested in the creation and performance of subversive music, from free improvisation and avant-jazz, to experimental bands and new music. Kidambi is also an educator, activist and organizer, informed by anti- racism, decolonization and anti-capitalism, and is co-founder and co-organizer of South Asian Artists in Diaspora and Musicians Against Police Brutality. In addition to collaborating with Darius Jones as the duo Angels and Demons and being the bandleader for Elder One, Kidambi is active in several improvising duos with Luke Stewart, Maria Grand, Matt Evans, and Matteo Liberatore. She is a key collaborator in Mary Halvorson’s sextet Code Girl, in various collaborations with William Parker, and has worked with the late Muhal Richard Abrams and the late Robert Ashley.

Acknowledgement

Presented in partnership with Coastal Jazz & Blues Society, and with the support of the Government of Canada and SOCAN Foundation.

American jazz musician Sun Ra in a publicity photo promoting the 1973 reissue of his album The Magic City through Impulse! Records and ABC/Dunhill Records.

American jazz musician Sun Ra in a publicity photo promoting the 1973 reissue of his album The Magic City through Impulse! Records and ABC/Dunhill Records.

Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.