Firstly, I wish I'd seen that! Any idea what network it was on?
The Arkestra had (and is having) a long evolution and changed the style of many compositions in performance as time went on. You might love an earlier recording of a piece and find a later performance incomprehensible. Sun Ra was responsible for as many musical innovations as Les Paul has been for technical and recording ones. For what it's worth, I had to expose my ears to a lot of free jazz for months and months before I had the "Eureka!" moment. Suddenly, I
got it. Suddenly, I could
hear it. I guess I'm a slow learner.;) Now I actually listen to heavy jazz to relax and wind down, because it makes me so happy.
One very early album before the "wilder" free jazz period is called
Jazz In Silhouette (Evidence 22012 - I got it recently at Barnes & Noble no less!). The liner notes are good and it does make a great introduction. I listen to it all the time. Late at night, lights out, I put this on and punch track 4 - "Ancient Aiethopia." If I don't have time to listen to anything else, I am still satisfied. I've had my fix.
Some useful web sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Ra
http://www.thesunraarkestra.com/
http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/
The links at the first entry will get you where you want to go, but I have included two for convenience.
You will find that Arkestra recordings were almost beyond number, but Saturn disks were not widely distributed, and were often not very hi-fi. Evidence records and others have done an amazing job of cleaning them up. Sun Ra was probably the first to record and distribute his own music, but that meant pressings of 75 vinyl copies for sale at performances.
John, the discography links might ring a bell with the title you "donated" to the criminal element.
http://www.astroblack.com/ Chronological and Alphabetical lists are available. A shorter list is in the Wikipedia article.
Enjoy, Clark
PS The inconsistent element was partially due to the Arkestra playing so many styles of music at the same gig or recording session. I imagine not many people would enjoy everything at a performance. The few sermons I've heard were fun, though. I need to get his book.