A normal man would not release a debut album when they reach 100 years old, Marshall Allen is no normal musician, man, saxophonist, bandleader and linch pin of all to Sun Ra's bands for 70 years!
You might have noticed that he's been doing the promo rounds with all the super fans, Gilles Peterson being at the fore (see below) but let's start at the beginning.
'Prologue', is the gentle starter before we slip into our lounge suits for some gentle Come Dancing in the Sun Ra Ballroom, Philadelphia with 'African Sunset' - a modern retro of the glamorous 30s jazz set.
The title track 'New Dawn' is the one that features Neneh Cherry (daughter ot Don, sister of Eagle Eye, prominent figure in the Bristol post-punk scene etc) and as a statement for a bloke in his 100th year, it's typical Ra-ness.
As fresh as an 'African Sunset' in the jazz lounge, the rest of the album will be of more interest to the Sun Ra students. 'Are You Ready' is a return to the rock'n'roll blues of Yochanan Rocket Ships. And then buckle up for a quick trip to destination avant-garde with 'Sonny's Dance' - Sonny Sharrock, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Ra, who knows? And even closer to today is 'Boma' which has a fantastic string section and, as with the rest of the album, Allen is joined with the "brightest" young jazz musicians (in Philly of course - it is the teachings of Herman Poole Blount after all).
At talk of Ra as a teacher, there's lines on here that sound a like snatch from his biggest hit, 'Space Is The Place' and, just as likely, equally a popular Xmas carol. He loved that type of thing and if he if listening to now to 'Angels And Demons At Play' he'd be more than happy with linchpin protege.
Back in 2015, when Marshall Allen did an interview to promote the Peterson currated double CD of space-age, avant-garde free jazz, 'Presents Sun Ra And His Arkestra - To Those Of Earth...And Other Worlds' (on Strut), he told 'Crack', "Sun Ra had a futuristic view of things. All the things that happened, he already know was going to happy". With respect, he wouldn't have known about 'New Dawn': or did he?
"The one thing that I'm really looking forward to, and I think this is the best thing ever, is the fact that Marshall Allen is about to release, at the age of 100, his debut album under his own name. There is no greater feat of durability, working at your craft, and putting your ego to the back of the room while you're supporting other artists and performers.” – Gilles Peterson
Artist: Marshall Allen
Title: New Dawn
Release date: 14th February, 2025
Label: Week End Records
Catalog Number: WE13
Format: Vinyl LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
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