Two days after his 100th birthday, Marshall Allen embarked on a remarkable journey with the creation of New Dawn, his debut solo album. A revered member of The Sun Ra Arkestra since 1958 and the ensemble’s leader since Sun Ra’s departure from this realm in 1993, Allen’s career has spanned nearly seventy years—yet this marks the first time he has released a solo record under his own name. Rather than bookending an era, New Dawn presents itself as a new chapter for Allen — a love letter to spacetime that channels a century of musical transience and transcendence into seven outer dimensional tracks. This unique concert offers a window into the very first live performance of this remarkable album.

Marshall Allen Kora, EWI, Alto Saxophone
Knoel Scott Baritone Saxophone, Congas, Drums
Bruce Edwards Guitar
RaDu Ben Judah Bass
Cecil Brooks Trumpet
George Gray Drums
Owen Brown Jr 1st Violin
Derek Washington 2nd Violin
Michael Ireland Viola
Ginger Smith Cello
Rochelle Thompson Singer

Presented by Boom Collective in partnership with Roulette.

A livestream will be available free of charge at 8pm on the day of the performance and archived for future viewing. Watch below or on YouTube.

A pioneer of the avant-garde, Marshall Allen‘s contributions both inside and beyond the Arkestra are legendary. Allen’s voice is one of cosmic spirit, transcending the boundaries of traditional jazz and offering an emotional and spiritual resonance that has drawn comparisons to “Johnny Hodges from outer space.” Allen’s music has always been more than just sound, journeying through all strata of creative exploration. His mastery of the saxophone, alongside his dedication and demonstration of Sun Ra’s teachings, has placed him in a distinct position within the avant-garde jazz universe for decades.