Sun Ra: Do the Impossible

Whether he was just a man or, as he claims, an angel sent from Saturn to spread peace and love through his music, Sun Ra was one of the unique visionaries of the 20th century — a creator who turned his life into a work of art. Endlessly reinventing himself, Sun Ra’s innovations as a musician and artist extended beyond his groundbreaking works with electronic instruments and free improvisation to radical ideas about culture and performance. Beginning with his childhood as Herman Poole Blount born 1914 in Alabama, director Christine Turner follows the artist’s trajectory as he transforms from a talented musician into Sun Ra: a pioneer embracing new forms of jazz and Afrofuturism while building a home in the avant-garde. Seamlessly blending archival footage, in-depth interviews with scholars and musicians, live performances, and kaleidoscopic imagery, this documentary explores the legacy of one of the most iconoclastic artists of the modern age.

See the Sun Ra Arkestra live at The Pearl, Feb 24. Get a $5 promo code for the show with purchase of your movie ticket, courtesy of Infidels Jazz & MODO Live.