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Gilles Peterson

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Joining the musical dots: soul, hip-hop, house, Afro, Latin, electronica, jazz and beyond.

Joining the musical dots - soul, hip-hop, house, Afro, Latin, electronica, jazz and beyond.

Gilles Peterson: Sun Ra Special

21/06/2014

Sun Ra Special

BBC Radio 6 Music - Gilles Peterson, Sun Ra Special

Gilles celebrates the centenary of iconic bandleader and composer Sun Ra.

Gilles celebrates iconic bandleader and composer Sun Ra, who would have turned 100 in May 2014, with live tracks recorded especially for the BBC.

Gilles celebrates the iconic bandleader and composer Sun Ra, with some live tracks recorded especially for the BBC.

Sun Ra would have been 100 years old this May. He had a hugely prolific career and was seen as one of the most controversial jazz musicians of all time. His cosmic philosophies and eclectic style made him a pioneer of Afrofuterism and his music and philosophies still continue to influence a whole raft of today's musicians.

From the mid-1950s to his death in 1993, Sun Ra led The Arkestra; an ensemble with an ever-changing name and flexible line-up where certain core members remained with the group through its various incarnations. The Arkestra is now under the directorship of 90 year-old Marshall Allen.

As part of a collection of programmes across the BBC celebrating Sun Ra, Gilles dedicates an hour to some of his favourite Sun Ra choices and artists who were influenced by the great man. There is also the opportunity to hear a couple of live tracks, which were recorded especially for the BBC by his influential collective, The Arkestra. You will be able to hear the full live session on BBC Radio 3's Jazz on 3 on 30th June.

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