Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise

USA 1980

This is a document of a series of concerts with Sun Ra and his Arkestra, in the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.

And on the director's website is a write up that really says it all about a lot of articles about music in general all over the Internet, and how so much of it has been commercialized with a review that was done by the producers as a way to help sell the item even more.

Thus, a lot of music videos are absolutely horrible and many times try to show some kind of dexterity that the better high school students can do on their own instruments, as a way to show something that these folks can do that you can't.

In this film, the director allows the musician to explain his music and then allow the members of the band to also talk and explain what they do, while in rehearsal or simply in concert. One thing is for sure, Sun Ra knows his music and its "notes" if need be, and seems like he helps many of the players achieve some moments with bits and pieces of their music, and this becomes clear when he finally identifies the note needed for the guitarist to take the touch a bit further ... and better, too!

And if you think that you are going to have some kind of voice over explaining the music, nope ... you get to watch it instead. And for me, it is way better. Your thoughts do not get interrupted.

The director likes to state that the "artistry" of directing is against the very film making ideas, which is to track a story or hearing some dialogue ... and here, both of these elements are seen in the grand scheme of things, the totality of the film and its artist. It is thought, many times, that some editing here and there is better and can make some films look slicker than they really are, but there is also a lot to say about folks that are not afraid to allow the camera to simply fly and follow the whole thing until it stops or ends. For an actor, musician or anyone, this can be difficult, but few of these folks ever complain about it, since it has a tendency to stretch and improve the ability of the performer. Something that most artists do not think about when it happens at all ... but if the person is used to these stretching exercises, they get easier and much more fun to do and play with.

It is kind of nice to see that many of the interviews are not actually such, but just a nice continuation of the moments in the film ... by various members of the band, and what they do.

The harder part of the film is to hear Sun Ra's philosophy, and how much of it is really important but is left behind and ignored by the society of the commercial life of music and movies ... but if there is one thing that we will not fail to see is how this man's ideas helped create some music that is way out there, somewhat classified as "jazz" but you and I would have no idea how to call all this ... except that it is really good, and worth the listen and watch!

4 GIBLOONS

Directed by Robert Mugge

Cinematography by Larry McConkey and David Insley