Sun Ra Arkestra At Miner Auditorium
“At the base root, Sun Ra’s concept comes out of Chicago, and basically, we’re just a Chicago jump band with a few frills”
Knoel Scott, Sun Ra Arkestra bandleader. Photo: Steve Roby
Sun Ra Arkestra
Miner Auditorium
San Francisco, California, USA
July 31, 2025
Under the kaleidoscopic lights of Miner Auditorium, the Sun Ra Arkestra landed the first of their four-night “residency. Fifteen musicians—adorned in sequined robes, ornate headdresses, and Egyptian motifs—assembled amid drifting fog. With a single stomp, bandleader Knoel Scott launched the ensemble into the deep, propulsive pulse of “Astro Black,” setting the “Cosmic Space Jazz” theme for the evening. His baritone sax rumbled like a stellar engine, anchoring a groove that rolled forward on George Gray’s supple, swinging drums.
Cellist Kash Killion, a San Francisco native, drew long, singing tones with his bow, weaving lyrical counterpoint through Elson Nascimento’s shimmering congas and Jorge Silva’s crisp timbales. When Scott swept his arm downward—his signal to wrap it up—trumpeter Fred Adams snapped off bright bursts of melody, each phrase like a starburst against the darkened hall.
Chris Hemingway. Photo: Steve Roby
Throughout the night, the Arkestra followed Scott’s expressive cues rather than a printed setlist. Fluttering fingers summoned pianist Farid Abdul-bari Barron into flourishes at the Steinway; a simple nod opened the door to collective improvisation. During “Images,” alto saxophonist Chris Hemingway answered Scott’s gesture with liquid runs that spiraled like planetary orbits, while trombonist Dave Davis played behind the woodwinds and Anthony Nelson spun subtle accents.
Mid-set, the band dug into the swinging shuffle of “Big John Number Two,” honoring Sun Ra’s longtime tenor man with a buoyant riff and blistering solos. Then “Lights On A Satellite” transported listeners on a hypnotic vamp: the full ensemble circled in tight unison, congas and horns melding into a trance-like pulse. And with “Tapestry From An Asteroid,” Barron’s cascading arpeggios wove through the brass in waves, building from a hushed introduction to a gleaming, full-band climax that shimmered like a meteor shower.
Tara Middleton. Photo: Steve Roby
Vocalist Tara Middleton was radiant in her stardust cape and a halo of gold filigree for “Love In Outer Space.” Her soulful delivery filled the hall, each phrase buoyed by Silva’s tumbao and Nelson’s hand-drum accents. When her final note faded, Scott stepped forward to pay tribute: “June Tyson was our queen,” he declared—honoring the Arkestra’s original singer—before inviting applause for Middleton’s stirring performance.
The evening’s most immersive moment arrived when Scott gestured for the band to step off the stage and wind through the audience. Led by Silva’s tambourine pulse and Nascimento’s congas, the Arkestra paraded and circled listeners on the dance floor. When they regrouped onstage, the closing fanfare felt like a triumphant return from a voyage through uncharted sonic galaxies.
Vincent Chancey. Photo: Steve Roby
As the concert approached its finale, Scott spread his arms wide, inviting every player into a grand collective statement. Barron unlocked a tapestry of cascading arpeggios, then—without pause—the band surged into an expansive rendition of “We Travel The Space Ways.” Hemingway’s alto spun rapid constellations, James Stewart’s tenor wove dense nebulas, and Davis bent his trombone slide into lunar swoops, all converging into a final, irresistible cosmic groove.
Amid thunderous cheers, Scott paused at the threshold, asked “One-way or round trip?” and quietly closed the backstage door behind him, leaving the hall charged with the promise of three more nights of cosmic exploration.
Setlist
Astro Black; Images; Big John Number Two; Lights On A Satellite; Tapestry From An Asteroid; Love In Outer Space; We Travel The Space Ways.
