Space Is The Place

A one-off live event will take place at London’s Jazz Café this January to celebrate the 50th anniversary of an avant-garde jazz album. ‘Sun Ra’s Space Is The Place 50th Anniversary’ will be hosted by Emanative & The Mutual Appreciation Society, who will perform their own interpretations of the iconic ‘Space is the Place’ alongside material inspired by the wider Sun Ra catalogue.

Over five sprawling tracks, 1973 album ‘Space is the Place’ provides an exemplary introduction to American jazz composer Sun Ra’s cosmic philosophy, experimental style and free-form compositional structures. The title track, in particular, has been described as an anthem that fuses “science fiction and ancient myth” by BBC journalist Stevie Chick, who points to its influence on rock acts like MC5, Sonic Youth and Primal Scream.

The live event is one of many taking place at the Jazz Café in 2023 to celebrate a pioneering musical force. In February, live collective Bassically will perform the work of house music titan Frankie Knuckles, while ‘90s hip-hop legends Slum Village play a trio of headline shows in April. New York minimalist funk outfit ESG — whose 1981 track ‘UFO’ remains one of the most sampled songs in music history — will also visit as part of a UK tour in May.

‘Sun Ra’s Space Is The Place 50th Anniversary’ takes place on 31st January 2023 at the Jazz Café in London.