RAJAH
SUN RA AND OTHER
Rather Funky Oddities
By Gregory Boyd
Around 1994 a very peculiar and fantastic thing happened that would change my musical out look forever. I met with a guy named Michael Ray. Talk about guys that one listened to he is definatly one of them. Basically everyone from Blue Magic, to Kool and Gang and Beyond he's played with. What was wierd was the guy is so chalant about performing with all of these people and at the time I was just inspired like a crazy man. I was invited to his house at the time which sat on the outside of what I used to call early uptown. "Early" because it was the area where the first americans moved after not being allowed to live in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The area was all industrial buildings and a few houses. We started working on this project called the "Neon Sound Performance" we would perform the music of Avant garde Jazz musician "Sun Ra". Michael performed in his band as a player then as music director for many years then decided to move to New Orleans and make a new band. I was curious and decided to make a leap of faith and try to perform some of the music. It was some of the most difficult and free music I have ever attempted. The music basically gave me chops I did not realize I had.
One Day I decided to write some kind of a funk Jazz song. It took me a minute but I came up with a bass line that I liked and decided to run with it and came up with this song that was aptly name by a friend "RAJAH" for the semi obvious Indian tones. My interpretation can be heard and is somewhat apparent in the melody being in 3 as the rhythm and beat is in 4. I started playing the song live and got a pretty good response as long as I did not play it too long. I've been guilty of this from time to time.
Peace GB
