From the legendary cosmonaut synonymous with big, theatrical bands comes this underappreciated jazz trio session. Much like a good cover song, Sun Ra on piano in trio allows you to hear what makes him so distinct by existing in a context where there’s more to reference and compare. Though this record was not widely circulated until its reissue I’ve found it essential to my understanding of Sun Ra as a pianist and improviser. You really hear the constantly shifting moods and emotions throughout each track and feel the almost narrative musical logic that ties them together.

Bound by his creative force the jumps in notes, changes in rhythm and sharp turns in mood are not powerful because they’re surprising but because they’re so natural. God Is More really highlights something special about such a strong and confident ear for melody in a group otherwise unbound by conventionality. On the first listen you don’t even really notice how free and formless the music is because the gravity of the emotion and the clarity with which it is conveyed. This modest session once cut and sold straight at the merch table has become a fan favorite since its reissue. God Is More… is a great example of how every footnote in the Sun Ra story contains its own microcosm of his universe.