Forty years before recording this very interesting CD, keyboardist
Sun Ra made his debut on records on a duet with violinist
Stuff Smith, playing a haunting version of "Deep Purple." For this CD (one of
Ra's final sessions) the quartet workout with violinist
Billy Bang finds
Ra doing a new version of "Deep Purple" and performing a variety of tunes associated with
Smith. Actually,
Ra was a bit hemmed in by the concept, and his conception of time was different than
Bang's, so there is a certain amount of tension in the music. Also,
Billy Bang has a much rougher sound and a freer style than
Stuff Smith, but the end results are well worth hearing. ~ Scott Yanow