The Bakersfield College Department of Performing Arts will present a Fireside Jazz concert featuring the music of Sun Ra on Thursday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room at the BC Campus Center. Admission to this event is $8 general and $5 for students, staff, and seniors. Tickets are available at the door.

The composer/pianist/bandleader Herman “Sonny” Blount (1914-1993), widely known as Sun Ra, was recognized for his pioneering musical experimentation, outer-space philosophy (he claimed to be from the planet Saturn), outrageous costumes and the earliest incorporation of electronic instruments in jazz. His music both encapsulated and influenced the popular music of the twentieth century, from swing-era big band roots through bebop, avant-garde jazz, even funk and disco. Artists ranging from John Coltrane to MC5 to George Clinton all professed a deep connection with Ra’s music.

Director Kris Tiner and the Bakersfield College Jazz Ensemble have prepared a dozen classic Sun Ra compositions for their performance, ranging from his very first recording session in 1956 to his “postmodern” Arkestra of the 1980s.

More info at bcjazz.org