17/01/2025
Legendary saxophonist and jazz musician Marshall Allen single-handedly defies expectations of old age. At the age of 100, the former Sun Ra Arkestra bandleader remains just as dedicated to the pursuit of new music and art as he always has been. Now, Allen has unveiled plans for his first-ever solo album, entitled New Dawn.
Since the early 1950s, Allen has been an unavoidable name in jazz circles. Through his work alongside Sun Ra, the Kentucky-born musician was utterly essential in developing styles of avant-jazz during the mid-20th century. As such, the century-old saxophonist already boasts an expansive and incredible discography, charting his development over the previous seven decades.
Despite his iconic status within jazz and the countless vital albums Allen has played a part in, New Dawn is set to be his first solo album, released solely under his name. Prior to this announcement, the majority of Allen’s work had either been released under the Sun Ra name or featured Allen as a bandleader, co-leader, or side-man.
Alongside the announcement of New Dawn, Marshall has also released the album’s title track, featuring guest vocals from Neneh Cherry and lyrics from Knoel Scott.
Previously, Scott and Marshall played together for many years in the Sun Ra Arkestra, so the duo gelled with each other seamlessly in this song.
Producer Jan Lankisch cites Scott as being a predominant driving force behind the project, sharing, “[Scott] knew Marshall better than anyone, and his deep understanding of Marshall’s compositions guided the selection of material for the album.”
New Dawn will be released on February 14th, 2025, providing an excellent Valentine’s gift for fans of jazz and Afrofuturism everywhere. If the title track is anything to go by, the album could rank among Allen’s greatest works of recent years.