Journalist and musician under the pseudo Discipline, Joseph Ghosn has just written Palmiers et Pyramides (Ed. Le Mot et Le Reste), a biography of Sun Ra, one of his main heroes. In 2014, the pianist would have been hundred years old this year. We seize the opportunity to celebrate the event with dignity with this Top 5.

India

“A really early track, and one of the earliest known use of an electric piano in a “jazz” setting. It has an exotic feel to it (a bit like a Martin Denny or Les Baxter track though produced far away from Hollywood…”

 
 
Enlightenment

“Something to go to sleep… A really slow track, quite beautiful, with an out of this world chanting that gives a very intimate tone. The Arkestra used to play a faster live version… This one was a 45, found on the Singles double CD.”

 
 
The Conversion of JP

“A long track that is found on the amazing ‘Space Probe’ LP. All percussions and a piano that takes it away by the end. The other side of the record is a full blast moog excursion. Typical of Ra : two sides that seem to never match but build on something very gemini-like. Split personalities.”

 
 
They’ll come back

“This one is for my pal Philippe : a really beautiful short ensemble outburst, that seems to float somewhere between freedom and collapse.”

 
 
Disco 2100

“The single version of Ra’s magnum opus Disco 3000 : a quartet workout, recorded in Italy, late 70’s, on which he uses a Crumar keyboard with a drum machine. Something disco not disco or approximately. No one ever came close to that sound and experience.”