We host a free ongoing series called "Listening at the Well" where we invite people to sit together to listen to music, highlighting some of the important works by a specific artist each month.

This month we are exploring the works of experimental jazz composer and bandleader, Sun Ra and his Arkestra through music and film.

Sun Ra was one of the most unique artists in the history of jazz, known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific output, and theatrical performances.

Drawing on Egyptian mythology and science fiction, Sun Ra created an elaborate personae, which he claimed to have been inspired by a visionary experience in which he was transported to the planet Saturn as a young man where he encountered a group of extraterrestrials who told him to drop out of school and use his music to communicate with the world.

These themes would be woven into his 1974 Afrofuturist science fiction film, "Space is the Place," which features him and his Arkestra.

For this installment of Listening at The Well, we will spend an hour listening to the music of the Sun Ra Arkestra, and then take a break before watching "Space is the Place."

As always, this is a free event (although we welcome donations to the space).

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Through this series we will explore a wide range of genres, with the hope of deepening our appreciation of music within a communal experience.
So often we only listen to music in isolation, either on earbuds or in our cars alone. But music has a profound power to bring people together, and by gathering intentionally to listen, we hope to bring back some of the lost spirit of music as a force of social connection.
There will be room to dance, sit, or lay down, and a quality sound system to listen on. In some cases we will play music videos and clips of interviews with the artist.