DESCRIPTION:
Transcendental Crayon Ensemble opening for the Sun Ra Arkestra on Jan 20, 2002, @ 12th & Porter. More about the Nashville free-jazz experiment known as the Crayon Ensemble (1997 - 2006) can be found at Jazz.com http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/rogers-john-edward
Photos of us playing with Jeff Coffin and others in Nashville 1998-2001 at http://www.grahamspice.com/gallery/072302TranscendentalCrayonEnsemble@WindowsontheCumberland-Nashville,TN

Here's a write up of the locally historic show when the Sun Ra Arkestra's 12th & porter show:
"The free jazz big band Sun Ra Arkestra
comes to town. By Ron Wynn

Bassist John Rogers, a longtime fan of the landmark free jazz big band the Sun Ra Arkestra,
initially wanted to hold a benefit concert to raise funds for the group's surviving members.
Herman Lee "Sonny" Blount, aka Sun Ra, began the Arkestra in the '50s. The group made
numerous recordings for various labels over more than six decades, championing a unique
idiomatic musical blend and performance style.
Ra's groups not only presented audiences a primer on black musical styles including
traditional jazz to bop, funk, R&B and soul, they were also pioneers in multimedia
presentation. Their concerts incorporated exotic dancers, spoken-word segments and amazing
light shows. Unfortunately, the Arkestra's fiscal fortunes, which were never exactly booming, have suffered considerably since Ra's death in 1993.
After witnessing firsthand some of the group's difficulties while seeing them perform in New
York City, Rogers decided to lend a hand. But his fund-raising efforts have now yielded
an unexpected bonus. "I was talking to Marshall Allen [a celebrated saxophonist/flutist, who is also among the few surviving founding members] about the benefit, making sure that it was alright with him to do something like this," Rogers said. "He was really happy and gratified, but he said rather
than make it seem like some sort of charity benefit, why not have the group come down and play a gig and earn the money."
As a result, the Sun Ra Arkestra makes its Nashville debut Sunday as part of a major
improvisational music showcase at 12th & Porter Playroom. Besides the 11-member group now led by Allen, Rogers' group, the Transcendental Crayon Ensemble, the fusion ensemble Schfvilkus
and Jeff Coffin and the Vibration Arts Ensemble are also appearing. The show begins at 7 p.m.,
with all proceeds going to the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen.
Rogers - the bandleader and manager for the Transcendental Crayon Ensemble as well
as the host of Freedom Against the Night, a show heard from midnight-2 a.m. Sunday on
WRVU-91.1 FM - feels fans have no idea about the problems facing the band on a daily
basis. "I've seen them play in concert, been fortunate enough to meet several members, and have
gotten so much pleasure out of their music, and many people just don't realize their circumstances," Rogers added. "They see all these albums in the store, and they figure,
yeah, they're doing fine. But the truth is, the group has been cheated by every record label and has always had to struggle to survive. "When Sun Ra died*, he turned things over to John Gilmore. Since he died, Marshall has been trying to keep the music alive. They're such an important group, and it is really amazing that in well over 50 years they've never been to Nashville."
The influence and impact of Sun Ra's Arkestra has been considerable on both musical and social levels. They were pioneers in utilizing electronic and unusual instruments, pacing and stage presentation, blending innovative musical performances with equally vivid, arresting visual theater.
Sun Ra's compositions combined an African rhythmic foundation with what he deemed "interplanetary themes" lyrically. He was also admired and greatly respected
by such artists as The Art Ensemble of Chicago and John Coltrane. In addition, regional organizations like Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM)
and St. Louis' Black Artists Group (BAG) utilized the Arkestra's example, operating as co-operative units rather than a disparate group of individuals.
Still, despite this impressive legacy, Allen and the surviving Arkestra members haven't
enjoyed the fame they deserve, even within the jazz fraternity. Rogers hopes that this benefit at least gives local fans unaware of their accomplishments a chance to see this historic group.
"This is a night that will probably never be repeated, and it is a dream come true for me to have the Sun Ra Arkestra finally here in Nashville."
**Note it WAS repeated and they came back next year for another gig at the same venue.
It was a real pleasure to meet the Arkestra and hear their music in-person. Ra like to compare his music to a psychic spaceship, an ARK, and the audience was definitely transported to a better world that evening.