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.
A pioneer of the avant-garde, Allen's contributions both inside and beyond the Arkestra are legendary. 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." Allen's music has always been more than just sound, journeying through all strata of creative exploration. 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.
New Dawn presents an intimate side of Allen rarely heard before. The album, recorded in Philadelphia in May 2024, was a collaborative effort with Knoel Scott, a fellow Arkestra member and lifelong friend. "Knoel's energy became the driving force behind the project," notes New Dawn producer Jan Lankisch. "He knew Marshall better than anyone, and his deep understanding of Marshall's compositions guided the selection of material for the album." Scott and Allen pored through an archive of unrecorded material, carefully selecting compositions that would showcase Allen's vast musical range.
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. As Lankisch describes, "We have created a record that showcases Marshall Allen's musical versatility, including a surprising calmer side we may not have heard before." From the subdued, transdimensional palettes of New Dawn to the boppy big band elements, the album demonstrates Allen's boundless ability to move through genres and emotions.
New Dawn draws from Allen's deep well of collaboration to bring together a cast of musicians who share his spectral vision. Scott helped assemble a team of Philadelphia's brightest jazz stars and Arkestra veterans to join Allen in the studio, including Michael Ray and Cecil Brooks (trumpet), Jamaaladeen Tacuma (bass), Bruce Edwards (guitar), and George Gray (drums) amongst other players. Together, they create a space where Allen's compositions can breathe and evolve, with improvisation and spontaneity woven into every track.
"New Dawn," the album's title track, is made all the more potent by the addition of Neneh Cherry's unmistakable voice. The song reflects Allen's ability to balance complexity with clarity, moving from serene introspection to explosive musicality. As the track unfolds, it becomes a perfect encapsulation of the album's spirit: the melding of the past and the future, of legacy and discovery.
New Dawn is a record that will resonate with listeners long after the final note has been played. It is a cosmic covenant that documents Marshall Allen's unyielding spirit and creative vision - one that has transcended genre, time, and space.
Track List
- Prologue
- African Sunset
- New Dawn feat. Neneh Cherry
- Are You Ready
- Sonny's Dance
- Boma
- Angels and Demons at Play
