How’s this for a pitch: Obese pianist travels from Outer Space to Oakland to create a jobs program. About as good of a curio as “200 Motels” or “Masked and Anonymous.” I can’t say I dig too much of the music Sun Ra was playing at this time (his mid-60s stuff is about as avant-garde as I can stomach), but there are a few interesting cultural moments. Annoying fact: Sun Ra uses Egyptian iconography to promote Black Power. But isn’t Egypt, even ancient Egypt, non-black racially? Shouldn’t Sun Ra be promoting the noble virtues of the Nubians and other Sub-Saharans?
Welcome
Jordan Hoffman is a New York-based writer and film critic working for The Guardian, Vanity Fair, Thrillist, Times of Israel, NY Daily News and elsewhere.
He is the host of ENGAGE: The Official Star Trek Podcast, a member of the New York Film Critics Circle and challenges you to a game of backgammon.
