“There simply is no worthier cause for Philly music lovers with a taste for the adventurous and daring.”
—The Key

The board and staff of Ars Nova Workshop invite you to a virtual fundraiser, honoring Sun Ra Arkestra maestro Marshall Allen. A ticket to the event gets you access to the evening’s program, hosted by Charlie Hall of the Grammy-winning band The War on Drugs, with interviews and surprise appearances by musical luminaries, including a very special performance by Yo La Tengo. Fundraiser tickets are available for a wide range of support levels, with specified tickets including a limited-edition gift bag delivered to you, with drinks, snacks, and some beautiful surprises we will open together during the event.*

So join us for an unforgettable evening of appreciation and fun, with the best that the jazz community has to offer. Not to be missed! Tickets available today!

*Delivery of gift bags will be scheduled in the 48 hours prior to the event and will be limited to a 30-mile radius. Contact us at info@arsnovaworkshop.org with any questions.

Marshall Allen

Ars Nova Workshop has had a long and treasured relationship with Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra. After nearly 97 years on the planet, Allen remains a brilliant imaginative force whose life has spanned nearly the entire history of jazz. A key member of the Arkestra for more than six decades, and its dauntless leader for the last quarter-century, Allen has kept Sun Ra’s cosmic torch blazing brightly while forging his own path through the spaceways as a singular voice on the alto saxophone and Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI).

Marshall’s longevity may be a testament to good genes, but it is just as much a testament to the power of music in his life, beginning in the early part of last century. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Allen moved to Philadelphia with his family in his teens before enlisting in the Army as a member of the 92nd Infantry, the famed Buffalo Soldiers. Upon his discharge he rejoined his family in Chicago, where he became enraptured by the music and teachings of Sun Ra. He’s remained with the Arkestra ever since, while also collaborating with a stunning array of artists including Sonic Youth, Paul Bley, Yo La Tengo, Medeski Martin and Wood, Phish, and countless others. Under his leadership, the Arkestra has toured tirelessly, bringing its message of interstellar unity to such renowned venues as Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Radio City Music Hall, as well as stages throughout Europe.

Related Media

Sun Ra Arkestra: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert (YouTube)

“On Halloween 2014, the Sun Ra Arkestra — complete with costumes inspired by Egyptian symbolism and science fiction — performed a rousing, out-of-this-world Tiny Desk Concert. The band was led by alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, who’s been with the Arkestra since the early 1950s. All these years later, no one makes soul-stirring, spaced-out jazz quite like the Arkestra.”

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