Re: Cosmic Visions

Chris, Thanks for the Blast First update--we're all glad that the package materialized. Those of us who use NTSC video can only hope that Phill Niblock will release Magic Sun on XI Discs. I don't know who Akhbar was, but Herby Griffin was a drummer who played with Ra in 1966. He's in the photos that Val Wilmer took at the Sun Studios that year--see Omniverse Sun Ra. His presence inclines me to believe that Magic Sun was shot in 1966. By the way, the same photos show Ronnie Boykins playing a two-stringed instrument called a dutar (it looks liked a slimmed-down Medieval fiddle). Another item of interest for Ra fans: The July 1994 Cadence includes a long interview with Junior Mance (born 1928 in Chicago). Junior mentions Sonny Blount briefly but favorably. He also describes his first paying gig (at age 11!) with T.S. Mims, Sr. Mims was a tenor sax player who later joined the same secret society as Abraham and Ra. It was probably his son, T.S. Mims Jr., who produced My Brother the Wind and Night of the Purple Moon. Still another: John Szwed says that the court fight over Ra's estate is already over. Alton Abraham waved Ra's name change and quoted the Bible, but to no avail. Ra's relatives in Alabama got everything. The Arkestra wasn't even considered. It's not clear what the fallout could be--Ra's relatives could even sue Abraham to recover money already paid him (good luck). rlc