Introduction Sun Ra is an enigmatic figure whose thoughts and intentions cannot be deciphered in their entirety. As one of the most mysterious but impactful jazz musicians in the history, Ra’s works were covered by numerous artists ranging from NRBQ to Yo La Tengo. They admitted that Ra’s musical heritage left a large impact on their composition. Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise was released in 1980 and shot by Robert Mugge. The film revolved around documenting Sun Ra and his Arkestra’s live performances in Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Shots of live performances were supplemented by interviews and the footage from the band’s rehearsals to show a large part of the musicians’ creative process. Even though at first glance, the film could be misinterpreted for a stereotypical performance recording, the filmmaker’s purpose was to delve deeper into the odd professional and personal life of Sun Ra as a mysterious individual. All three performances filmed at different destinations around the United States show viewers how passionate Sun Ra was about focusing his talent and encouraging his Intergalactic Omniverse Arkestra to create an unforgettable and dazzling experience (Votaw). The film captured the performance of such songs as “Astro Black,” “Along Came Ra,” “We Travel the Spaceways,” and “Requiem for Trevor Johnson.” The overall essence of the film can be characterized as musically and visually complex due to the combination of seemingly separate worlds: Ra’s deep philosophical monologues and the Arkestra’s banter about Ra and his contribution into their development as jazz musicians. Summary Despite being a documentary, Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise does not retell the life of the musician. The film starts with a monologue given by Sun Ra himself. The artist talks about complex nature of humanity and how everything that supports people’s life comes from outer space: the sunshine, the wind, the rain. As Ra speaks, the wonders between the statues of Egyptian gods, who, in his opinion, had a deeper understanding of the space and of the unknown because according to him “knowledge is laughable when attributed to a human being” (“Sun Ra A Joyful Noise Movie”). The one-minute monologue instantly creates an impression of Sun Ra as a mystical person who was more than just a musician. The links to Ancient Egyptian mythology make the introduction more compelling and impressive. The film progresses into the recording of the Arkestra’s live performance of “Astro Black” and “Along Came Ra” with June Tyson on vocals. Sun Ra does not perform with the band, rather, he stands between them and enjoys the music. As the June sings “Along Came Ra,” he walks into the shot, praised by his band members as the “living myth.” The performance is then followed by another monologue, in which Ra elaborates about the nature of the mythical and spiritual language of music and the impact it has on people. As the monologue ends, shots from the live performance follow it. Therefore, there is a clear sequence of scenes that follow each other in the film. Viewers can expect to see Ra’s speech about the universe and outer space interrupting the Arkestra live performance. Of course, Ra also is shot playing the piano or the saxoph