The third release on the Ra estate label is this fascinating piano trio recording made in 1979 – the only piano trio Ra ever recorded. But precisely because of the familiarity of this classic format the personal deviations from the norm are all the more prominent. Bassist Hayes Burnett exercises good judgement and holds things together - for the most part, while drummer Eric Walker (aka Samuri Celestial – - it was his first recording date with Ra) makes no attempt to swing or patter along, but follows his own, interesting, track; in fact a lot of this record is filled with parallel playing, though it’s in tuneful blocks, not in the manner of free-jazz-in-inverted-commas. Released on Saturn as Blithe Spirit Dance and Days of Happiness it won’t be for everyone, but for its insights into Ra’s thinking and the aesthetics he invoked and encouraged, it’s doozy. Plus, nice package and sensible, researched sleeve-notes.