Phil Cohran - African Skies [CD]

Release Date: January 16, 2026
Label: Listening Position

Stones Throw Records debuts new imprint Listening Position with the long-awaited reissue of Kelan Phil Cohran & Legacy's spiritual jazz masterpiece African Skies. A holy grail for jazz collectors, African Skies has been out of print since it's initial pressing of 1000 vinyl copies in 2010. The thousands who've long sought their own copy will welcome this reissue as the definitive version of this profound recording. Used copies fetch over $500+ on the used market. Kelan Phil Cohran was a member of the pioneering afro-futurist Sun Ra Arkestra and appears on several of their most acclaimed recordings. He released several albums of his own compositions in the 1960s with his band The Artistic Heritage Ensemble, including a revelatory tribute to Malcom X - a well-known collectible for jazz aficionados. Cohran was a mentor to artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan and The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, a Chicago-based brass band whose members included 8 of his sons.