What does Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue sound like?

A cosmic exploration of jazz, blending improvisation with elements of blues and avant-garde textures. Rooted in jazz. Start with "Some Blues but Not the Kind That's Blue".

Is Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue a good place to start with The Sun Ra Arkestra?

Yes, Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue is recommended as a starting point for new The Sun Ra Arkestra listeners. A cosmic exploration of jazz, blending improvisation with elements of blues and avant-garde textures. By 1977, the Sun Ra Arkestra had established themselves as pioneers of avant-garde jazz, following several influential albums throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. 'Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue' marked a continued evolution in their sound, showcasing their unique blend of traditional jazz structures with experimental flair.

Who is Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue for?

Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue works well if you're into steady exploration of soulful melodies, kaleidoscopic journey through improvisation and patient unfolding with emotional peaks.

How many songs are on Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue?

Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue has 9 tracks, running approximately 71 minutes.

Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue

The Sun Ra Arkestra · 1977

71 min · 9 tracks · jazz

A cosmic exploration of jazz, blending improvisation with elements of blues and avant-garde textures.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Some Blues but Not the Kind That's Blue Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's spirit, merging traditional blues elements with improvisational sections that display the band's musical dexterity.
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My Favorite Things — This rendition transforms the well-known melody into a sprawling journey, highlighting the Arkestra's signature blend of free jazz and rich harmonics.
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Nature Boy — Sun Ra's interpretation adds an ethereal quality to this classic, infusing it with cosmic themes while maintaining emotional depth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

The album blends improvisation with avant-garde elements, showcasing distinctive interpretations of jazz standards.

What we noticed

Several tracks feature unconventional arrangements of familiar standards, allowing for unexpected harmonic shifts and rhythmic variations.
The album includes moments of collective improvisation where the ensemble interacts dynamically, creating a sense of spontaneity throughout.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady exploration of soulful melodies
kaleidoscopic journey through improvisation
patient unfolding with emotional peaks
for reflective afternoon listening

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer short, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — It blends improvisation with blues and avant-garde textures, diverging from earlier works.
Themes: cosmic jazz exploration· avant-garde improvisation· blues reimagined
Career context: By 1977, the Sun Ra Arkestra had established themselves as pioneers of avant-garde jazz, following several influential albums throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. 'Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue' marked a continued evolution in their sound, showcasing their unique blend of traditional jazz structures with experimental flair.
Stylistic neighbors: Alice Coltrane· Pharoah Sanders· Don Cherry