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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.A pioneer of the avant-garde, 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 InchJohnny Hodges from outer space.Inch 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.New Dawn presents an intimate side of Allen rarely heard before. The album, recorded in Philadelphia in May 2024, was a collaborative effort with Knoel Scott, a fellow Arkestra member and lifelong friend. InchKnoel's energy became the driving force behind the project,Inch notes New Dawn producer Jan Lankisch. InchHe knew Marshall better than anyone, and his deep understanding of Marshall's compositions guided the selection of material for the album.Inch Scott and Allen pored through an archive of unrecorded material, carefully selecting compositions that would showcase Allen's vast musical range.Though the album is informed by the philosophy of Sun Ra, it also marks a significant moment
