Mayan Temples is an album by the American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Sun Ra, released in 1992 on the Black Saint label. It was Sun Ra's final studio recording as a leader.
Critical reception
The Omaha World-Herald wrote that the album moves "through swing and be-bop band re-creations, African rhythm workouts and outer-space weirdness."
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "One of the finest Sun Ra recordings from his final years, this effort is particularly recommended due to the many Ra keyboard solos and John Gilmore features... Overall, this is a fine all-around studio set."Yanow, S. [ AllMusic Review] accessed July 21, 2010
Track listing All compositions by Sun Ra except as indicated "Dance of the Language Barrier" – 3:58 "Bygone" – 5:15 "Disciple No. 1" – 4:57 "Alone Together" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 7:02 "Prelude to Stargazers" – 5:17 "Mayan Temples" – 7:40 "I'll Never Be the Same" (Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck, Frank Signorelli) – 4:57 "Stardust from Tomorrow" – 3:38 "El Is a Sound of Joy" – 5:26 "Time After Time" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) – 4:21 "Opus in Springtime" – 6:41 "Theme of the Stargazers" – 14:09 "Sunset on the Nile" – 5:42 Recorded at Mondial Sound, Milano, Italy, on July 24 & 25, 1990.
Personnel Sun Ra – piano, synthesizer Michael Ray, Ahmed Abdullah – trumpet, vocals Tyrone Hill – trombone Marshall Allen – alto saxophone, flute Noel Scott – alto saxophone John Gilmore – tenor saxophone, timbales James Jacson – bassoon, Ancient Egyptian Infinity Drum Ronald Wilson – tenor saxophone Carl LeBlanc – electric guitar Jothan Callins – bass, electric bass Clifford Barbaro, Earl "Buster" Smith – drums Ron McBee – congas, percussion Jorge Silva – percussion Elson Nascimento – surdo, percussion June Tyson – vocals
References