Sun Ra Arkestra legend Marshall Allen releases debut album aged 100

Two days after his 100th birthday (that was on 25 May 2024), Marshall Allen embarked on a remarkable journey with New Dawn, his debut solo album that is now set for release on Week-End Records on 14 February.

A revered member of The Sun Ra Arkestra since 1958 and the ensemble’s leader since Sun Ra’s departure from this realm in 1993, Allen’s career has spanned nearly 70 years, yet this marks the first time he has released a solo record under his own name. The album, New Dawn presents itself as a new chapter for Allen, it’s a “love letter to spacetime that channels a century of musical transience and transcendence” into the LP’s seven “outer dimensional” tracks.

New Dawn presents an intimate side of Allen rarely heard before. The album, recorded in Philadelphia in May 2024, was a collaborative effort with Knoel Scott, a fellow Arkestra member and lifelong friend. “Knoel’s energy became the driving force behind the project," notes producer Jan Lankisch. "He knows Marshall better than anyone, and his deep understanding of Marshall’s compositions guided the selection of material for the album." Scott and Allen pored through an archive of unrecorded material, carefully selecting compositions that would showcase Allen’s vast musical range.

A pioneer of the avant-garde, Allen's contributions to the Arkestra are legendary. His sound transcends the boundaries of traditional jazz, offering an emotional and spiritual resonance that has drawn comparisons to "Johnny Hodges from outer space." Allen’s music has always been more than just sound, journeying through all strata of creative exploration. His mastery of the saxophone and the EVI, alongside his translation of Sun Ra’s teachings, has placed him in a distinct position within the avant-garde jazz universe for decades.

Producer Lankisch adds, “We have created a record that showcases Marshall Allen’s musical versatility, including a surprising calmer side we may not have heard before.”

The first single released is the album’s title track, with ‘New Dawn’ featuring the unmistakable voice of acclaimed rapper/vocalist Neneh Cherry (pictured above - Photo © Clare Shilland). The song reflects Allen’s ability to balance complexity with clarity, moving from serene introspection to explosive musical statements. As the track unfolds, it becomes a perfect encapsulation of the album's spirit: the melding of the past and the future, of legacy and discovery.

The album also features some of Philadelphia’s brightest jazz stars and Arkestra veterans who joined Allen in the studio, including Michael Ray and Cecil Brooks (trumpet), Jamaaladeen Tacuma (bass), Bruce Edwards (guitar), and George Gray (drums) among other players. Together, they create a space where Allen’s compositions can breathe and evolve, with improvisation and spontaneity woven into every track.

See the video below and for more info visit week-end.bandcamp.com