One of the unexpected treats of last year was a new – and excellent – album from the Sun Ra Arkestra: Lights On A Satellite.

If you’re looking for an antidote to musical torpor, this could well be it. It draws on free jazz, classic big-band swing, spiritual jazz, gospel and light funk to create one of the most enjoyable collections of 2024.

Led by 100-year-old sax titan Marshall Allen, the Arkestra – celebrating the compositions of late, avant-garde legend Sun Ra, with a few other surprises thrown in – gathered at New York’s Power Station on 16 June 2024 under the jurisdiction of legendary engineer James Farber.

Notice is served by spellbinding opening title track which takes a simple chord sequence and then blows it to bits with a series of coruscating solos. One is then wrongfooted by the superbly played ‘traditional’ big-band melodies of ‘Dorothy’s Dance’ and ‘Big John’s Special’.

Vocals appear from time to time, most notably on the seriously strange cover of ‘Holiday For Strings’. Instrumentation frequently surprises, with snatches of harp, synth, violin and electric guitar sliding into the mix on occasion, such as on the wonderful ‘Tapestry From An Android’.

It is possible to stream the album but it’s worth forking out for the sumptuous gatefold CD or vinyl versions which come with a long essay and some excellent photos. And hey, while you’re at it, check out this excellent Don Letts-directed BBC doc about the remarkable Sun Ra. The first few minutes are worth the price of admission alone.