Disco 3000 is yet another release by
the Sun Ra Quartet, recorded during an incredibly prolific period in Italy in January of 1978. The players are
Ra (keys),
John Gilmore (tenor sax), Michael Ray (trumpet), and
Luqman Ali (drums), with assistance from the Crumar Mainman synthesizer/rhythm box. The title cut is pretty free, with
Ra's carnival organ starting the proceedings along with some programmed rhythms. Everyone takes turns soloing, with Michael Ray doing his trademark trumpet-with-delay imitation and some weird panning effects tossed in. They also veer into the "Space Is the Place" chant, briefly. "Third Planet/Friendly Galaxy" is a more straightforward bop-flavored piece that gives way to a great
John Gilmore tenor solo accompanied only by
Luqman Ali. "Dance of the Cosmo-Aliens" is basically a
Ra keyboard showcase with the rhythm box and only the slightest contributions from
Ali. The applause at the end indicates that at least this track was recorded live. This quartet was a short-lived experiment that put out a wide range of material. The more "inside" material was released on the Horo albums
Other Voices, Other Blues and
New Steps, with Saturn releasing the rest (Media Dream,
Disco 3000, The Sound Mirror). This is an interesting, but not essential recording, whose reputation is probably based more on its obscurity/rarity status than the music it contains. ~ Sean Westergaard