The Beginner's Guide to Afrofuturism

In the vast world of jazz, few names resonate as uniquely and enigmatically as Sun Ra and his Arkestra. For Suso Navarrete, a Sun Ra scholar and the dedicated webmaster of the Arkestra’s online presence for the past 20 years, this fascination has been a lifelong journey that spans over five decades. 

If you missed it, be sure to check out part one of this series that details my quest to learn more about Sun Ra in Philadelphia which ultimately led to me connecting with Suso. In part two of this series, we delve into Suso’s captivating journey and explore the enduring influence of Sun Ra’s Afrofuturistic vision. 

Early Sonic Encounters

Suso currently lives in Valencia, Spain and still tries to attend the Arkestra’s performances whenever they tour, but his journey with Sun Ra began in his teenage years. “I don’t know how I first heard about Sun Ra,” he reflects. “But I remember very well how I was wandering all the record stores, when I was around 14, searching for the few LPs published in Europe by him.” 

The turning point came in 1983 when he witnessed the Arkestra’s live performance in Madrid. He recalls, “Things fell in place in my mind, and I realized that those weird sounds you could listen to on records were instead the kind of ceremony that every performance by the Arkestra was, and still is.” His passion led to him publishing the first translation of Sun Ra’s poetry into Spanish, marking the beginning of his contributions to the exploration of Sun Ra’s multifaceted artistic legacy.

In the 1990s, the emergence of the internet opened new avenues for Suso to connect with fellow Sun Ra enthusiasts and scholars. “I was able to start contacts with the European branch of Sun Ra scholars, people like the late Hartmut Geerken, Chris Trent and others. I also contacted other Sun Ra die-hard fans in the USA,” he explains. Suso’s direct personal encounter with the Arkestra happened in 2001 when he traveled to see them play in the small Spanish town of Huesca. After the show, he had the opportunity to converse with percussionist Elson Nascimento, who also serves as their tour manager. 

This encounter laid the foundation for a collaboration that would unfold in the digital realm. With some experience under his belt from designing websites for other musicians, he reached out to Elson in 2003, offering his expertise to enhance the Arkestra’s online presence. “He accepted and, well, here we are,” Suso remarks. Little did he know that this collaboration would transform into a two-decade-long commitment as the Arkestra’s dedicated webmaster.

Sun Ra’s Vision

The webmaster’s deep connection with Sun Ra’s work goes beyond the music; it permeates his entire life. “I couldn’t say a specific reason why, fascination usually has no definite reason. But yes, my life would have been very different without this interest, no doubt. I’ve spent thousands of hours searching for the recordings, listening to them, reading the poetry, copying CD-R’s, writing to other people, traveling to meet them. I have other interests in life, it’s not a monomania, just my favorite mania,” he acknowledges. 

Sun Ra’s philosophical approach to his music set him apart from his contemporaries. According to Suso, Ra was the only jazz musician whose work was based on his own philosophies or equations as he called them. “Other musicians or bands were influenced by political or philosophical ideas, but Sun Ra’s thoughts were not only special, but unique,” Suso notes. 

Sun Ra talked about the existence of Black Pharaohs when historians at the time considered this notion to be nonsensical. His equations were surprising, and they were not just about music; they were a commentary on the failures of dominant Western culture and ultimately of the entire human race. “Our culture is based on war, destruction, fear, oppression, greed. Space should be the place instead,” Suso adds, echoing Sun Ra’s own sentiments. Ra’s music was not only a vehicle in which to spread his messages, but to change the course of planet earth and humanity itself. 

Evolution of the Arkestra

Over the past two decades, Suso has witnessed the evolution of the Arkestra’s sound and performance. Under the continued leadership of Marshall Allen, the band has explored new territories such as big band swing while maintaining a connection to their roots. “Best thing is that being a band formed more than 60 years ago, there is no interest on revival, no room for nostalgia, no comfort playing the best-known tunes. Every performance is new, fresh and risky and full of fun,” Suso observes. While there is resemblance with the band’s sound, costumes and presence, no two performances are alike. 

The Arkestra’s commitment to embracing creativity has kept their performances vibrant and full of surprises. They have also successfully reprised some of Sun Ra’s more famous pieces in recent years. Suso reminisces about seeing the band on tour in Porto, Portugal in October of 2023. “I found a very strong band, with a very well-chosen repertoire and some new musicians adding fire to the whole. Tara Middleton, the singer, was very good that night. Knoel Scott took the lead instead of Marshall and his direction was on point. And Fariz, who plays the difficult role of sitting on Sun Ra’s bench, was superb on piano and synth.”

Suso’s A-Side

As the webmaster of the Arkestra, Suso has seen the band play many times and along with maintaining their website he encapsulates them in photographs. “My reward is to feel myself being useful to these guys that I admire,” he expresses. Despite the physical distance, Suso cherishes the moments when he can attend the Arkestra’s performances and connect with the musicians, making his efforts truly worthwhile. The website serves as a gateway for newcomers and a valuable resource for long-time fans. Suso emphasizes that he wants to transmit the idea of the Arkestra being a different kind of band and thus designed their website to be a different kind of website, devoid of cookies, tracking and ads – a place for people to see, not to be seen.

For Suso, one of the most rewarding aspects of his work as a Sun Ra scholar and the Arkestra’s webmaster is the personal connection forged with many wonderful people over the years. He recalls going to Sun Ra conventions near Munich where the people attending always felt more like relatives than friends or acquaintances. During the conventions they would discuss Sun Ra’s music and poetry and watch the few videos of him that exist. 

Ultimately, Suso says the work of discovering Sun Ra is finished. “There is an established official discography, though it keeps increasing each day mostly with low value live recordings or reissues under a different name of well-known recordings, his complete writings are published. The collective work of finding lost recordings or unknown poetry that we did during the 90’s is over.”

Sun Ra and the Arkestral Legacy 

As we navigate the celestial realms of Sun Ra and the Arkestra’s influence within the vast landscape of Afrofuturism, Suso’s reflections offer a poignant insight. Utilizing Ytasha L. Womack’s definition of Afrofuturism as an intersection of imagination, technology, the future and liberation, he underscores the unparalleled embodiment of these elements in Sun Ra’s cosmic persona. While acknowledging his respect for Afrofuturism, Suso, like Sun Ra himself, remains wary of movements and “isms.” He gives the example that although Ra was part of the free jazz and Black nationalism movements in the mid 60s, when asked if his music was free jazz Ra responded: “This is not free, but a lot of discipline.” 

The closing of this two-part exploration left me with the realization that the quest for Sun Ra is an ongoing journey. Like Suso, I will continue to seek Sun Ra through the timeless echoes of the Arkestra and the rich legacy he has bequeathed to us. Skepticism, as exemplified by both Sun Ra and Suso, is a helpful reminder to approach movements and narratives with discernment. 

In this cosmic odyssey, we’ve ventured into the depths of Sun Ra’s universe as seen through the eyes of the Arkestra’s webmaster. As we close this chapter, let us carry the spirit of liberation and the eternal search for truth forward. For in the ever-expanding cosmos of Sun Ra and the Arkestra, the journey persists—a journey woven with cosmic melodies and the enduring legacy of an Afrofuturist luminary.

What elements of Sun Ra and the Arkestra’s legacy do you find most inspiring, and how do you envision the continuation of their cosmic exploration in the years to come? Let me know in the comments below!