Sun Ra: Next Steps

Sun Ra: Next Steps

Renowned for taking his Arkestra to the furthest reaches of outer-space jazz between the late '50s and the early '90s, Sun Ra created plenty of earthly delights as well. “Spontaneous Simplicity” and “Tiny Pyramids” are as charming as a child's lullaby, “Door of the Cosmos” mixes chants and nimble fusion guitar, and the big-band boogie of “Big John's Special” shines as bright as the sun.