A Strange Celestial Road: My Time in the Sun Ra Arkestra is trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah’s memoir of more than two decades performing with Sun Ra and the Arkestra. Written with the assistance of poet Louis Reyes Rivera, it follows Abdullah through the New York loft jazz scene, international tours, and the creative and political ferment of the 1970s and 1980s. Alongside his personal struggles and spiritual development, Abdullah recounts collaborations and encounters with Cal Massey, Marion Brown, Andrew Cyrille and other major figures in avant-garde jazz.