Allen, Marshall: New Dawn LP

Two days after his 100th birthday, Marshall Allen embarked on a remarkable journey with the creation of "New Dawn", his debut solo album. A revered member of The Sun Ra Arkestra since 1958 and the ensemble's leader since Sun Ra's departure from this realm in 1993, Allen's career has spanned nearly seventy years, yet this marks the first time he has released a solo record under his own name. Rather than bookending an era, "New Dawn" presents itself as a new chapter for Allen - a love letter to spacetime that channels a century of musical transience and transcendence into seven outer dimensional tracks. Allen's voice is one of cosmic spirit, transcending the boundaries of traditional jazz and offering an emotional and spiritual resonance that has drawn comparisons to "Johnny Hodges from outer space". His mastery of the saxophone, alongside his dedication and demonstration of Sun Ra's teachings, has placed him in a distinct position within the avant-garde jazz universe for decades. Though the album is informed by the philosophy of Sun Ra, it also marks a significant moment of artistic independence for Allen. "New Dawn" is more than just an extension of Ra's legacy; it is a testament to Allen's unique voice within the entire cosmos of jazz. "New Dawn," the album's title track, is made all the more potent by the addition of Neneh Cherry's unmistakable voice.