A deeply soulful journey into the music of Sun Ra, led by his long-time bassist Tyler Mitchell and featuring jazz legend Marshall Allen on saxophone.

Here's what musician/producer Spike Wilner describes in the album notes:

It is with great pleasure that I partner with my estimable friend Cory Weeds & The Cellar Music Group to release the first of a series of live recordings from Smalls Jazz Club and Mezzrow. The SmallsLIVE Living Masters Series is funded entirely by grants from the SmallsLIVE Foundation, our not-for-profit art foundation founded in 2018. During the COVID lockdown of New York businesses from March 2020 to April of 2021, the SmallsLIVE Foundation was key to keeping our jazz clubs alive. Thanks to the grassroot donations from jazz fans and supporters world-wide, we were able to meet the expenses of maintaining the venues as they sat shuttered by the city.

Once the clubs began again to operate as public institutions these funds were no longer permitted to be used to subsidize operating costs. It is with these residual funds that we created the SmallsLIVE Living Masters Series. Our idea is to celebrate the masters of this music that are still with us. The grant includes a cash award to the recipient as well as a live video recording to document their work in relation to our venues.

The first recipients of the award include bassist Tyler Mitchell along with tenor saxophonist Marshall Allen, pianist Kirk Lightsey, vocalist Sheila Jordan, drummer Victor Lewis, trombonist Frank Lacy, saxophonist David Liebman and saxophonist Jesse Davis. The SmallsLIVE Foundation is grateful to all of the musicians, fans, students and supporters who have kept us alive as vibrant musical venues in New York City.
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Some thoughts on Tyler Mitchell:

I met Tyler when I was in my early twenties and just trying to get started on the jazz scene. This was around 1988 or 1989. The jazz scene of New York then was vibrant and deep and still very much alive with great masters and legends. It was an imposing place for a green, neophyte like myself. I met Tyler through my roommate, tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart. We went to a now defunct club where Tyler was playing with his band. He recognized us as young musicians and invited us to sit in. Of course, I was terrified. But later we started interacting in a friendly way and I got to know the man. During that period, Tyler was in ascendency in terms of his stature as a bassist. During this period, he was the first call for the biggest gigs. Just to share a list of all the legendary musicians with whom he performed is impressive enough. Such as:

Art Taylor, Shirley Horn, Clifford Jordan, Junior Cook, Jackie McLean, Cecile Payne, Jon Hendricks Al Jarreau, Barry Harris, John Hicks, Walter Bishop jr, Walter Davis, Kenny Drew, Louis Hayes, Steve Grossman, Von Freeman, Benny Golson, Gilly Coggins, Larry Willis, Wynton Marsalis, Jesse Davis, Eddie Henderson, Roy Hargrove, Vernel Fournier, Charles Davis, Sun Ra, Marshall Allen, Billie Bang, Rasheed Ali, Frank Lowe, Sonny Simmons, Freddie Redd, George Coleman, Harold Mabern, Charles McPherson, Leroy Williams, Clarence “C” Sharp, Don Cherry, Sal Nistico, Ben Riley, Chet Baker, Richie Cole, Leo Mitchell, Dennis Charles, Frank Morgan, John Gilmore, Russel Malone, Frank Lacy, Steve Davis, Stanley and Tommy Turrentine, Betty Carter, Annie Ross, Benny Green, Jimmy Scott, Andy Bey, Brad Mehldau, Gary Bartz, Jimmy Cobb, Wallace Roney

It is with Art Taylor’s Wailers that I really got to see the greatness of Tyler’s musicianship. With Mr. A.T. at the helm and Tyler’s warm, groovy ass beat, it was as good as jazz can get. At this time, Tyler was everywhere, making gigs, traveling and recording. There are some wonderful photos of him with Jackie McClean or Roy Hargrove’s band. Then, as they say, life got in the way. For the most part, Tyler disappeared. For personal reasons he left New York and put himself in Mexico where he spent about 10 years, incognito. I often thought of Tyler during this time and wondered what had happened to him. Honestly, many thought he was dead. But in 2008 he contacted me and was back in town. By this time, I was now operating Smalls Jazz Club and also creating my first batch of SmallsLIVE records. Like Rip Van Winkle, Tyler Mitchell came back to the new world – a new scene with new players. But he got right back to work and started playing and becoming a part of the musical fabric. It was at this time that I created my longstanding trio with Anthony Pinciotti and Tyler which we call “Ancient Aliens”. It is with this trio that we have had many tours and many towns and many flights. During this most recent period it’s been my pleasure to call Tyler my friend and my brother.

This project is special to Tyler’s heart – a journey into the music of Sun Ra, who’s band Tyler has been a long-standing member. The miracle is Marshall Allen, who has somehow discovered the fountain of youth and in his late nineties is still inventive, spry as well as wise and beautiful. I am so glad to be able to award Tyler and Marshall this grant to create this wonderful musical work. Enjoy!