Shot in France, an eye-popping visit with Sun Ra—bandleader, keyboardist, composer, cosmic messenger, self-made interstellar myth—and his wildly-costumed Solar Arkestra. The songs go from Coleman Hawkins’ classic "Blue Lou" to a free-form, torching "Tea for Two" to the futuristic "Nuclear War" and "1984."

Jazz avant-garde’s reigning quintet perform in quasi-African costumes, masks and face paint, surrounded by drums, gongs, toys, anything to make a musical noise, as they go caroming through the history of jazz. "One of the most intelligent of jazz documentaries" – Jon Pareles, New York Times.