**** Sun Ra

THE SINGLES

(Evidence)

Although Sun Ra's discs are found in the "jazz" section of music stores, a large number of the 49 tracks on this two-disc set are blues or doo-wop. Damned weird mutations of these forms, with vocalists sounding like offshoots of Little Richard or Buddy Guy, are filtered through an otherworldly sensibility. But jazz lovers also have much to ponder here: spacy anthems and marches, soulful blues, moog workouts by Sun Ra, tenor-sax solos to die for by John Gilmore. Material ranges from the familiar ("Love in Outer Space") to the singular ("I'm Going to Unmask the Batman"). Recording quality is surprisingly good given that the rare 45s were often remastered. The accompanying booklet collects writings by various learned hands emphasizing why "jazz" is too limiting a term for Ra's talent. Anyone who loves melodrama, humor, cosmic ambition, and big-band expressionism should rush to hear this challenging music.

-- Norman Weinstein