Recorded in 1956 and released a year later while Sun Ra was living in Chicago, Supersonic Jazz is generally regarded as the first full-length album with his Arkestra, although many tracks here first appeared as singles. Among the dozen band members, he’s joined by future longtime Arkestra saxophonists John Gilmore and Pat Patrick as well as legendary Chicago drummer Robert Barry and noted trombonist Julian Priester (who also contributed “Soft Talk”). Even at this early stage, Ra is his singular self (appearing on electric, Wurlitzer, and acoustic piano), but there's a noted reverence for Ellington and Monk in his playing and arrangements. Highlights include the straight bebop of “Super Blonde” and “Sunology, Pt. 2,” which delves into the blues to fine effect. While “Kingdom of Not” has a jumping R&B groove that would have worked for dancing, “El Us a Sound of Joy” is the most forward-sounding tune here, with slashes of atonality. Reissued a number of times (the Impulse! version was called Super Sonic Sounds), this is newly remastered from source tapes as 24-bit transfers.