Subtle space jazz rework is first of three from the producer and DJ.

Strut, the UK label dedicated to reissuing gems from the history of disco, rare groove, Afrobeat and more (they’re behind this year’s ace Dance Mania compilation Hardcore Traxx) have announced a special 12″ of edits by Detroit house legend Mike Huckaby.

Following Strut’s recent compilation In The Orbit of Ra, which saw Arkestra bandleader Marshall Allen curate his own selection of recordings by the space jazz deity, the label has tasked Huckaby with delivering his own take on three Sun Ra tracks.

“As a Sun Ra fan, it has been a pleasure to be able to do an edit of Sun Ra material,” explains Huckaby. “Sometimes its more of a restoration project than it is an opportunity to do an edit. In any case, the goal is always to preserve the original integrity and direction of the song, while somehow making it appealing to an new and emerging fan base of listeners from the traditional school, and emerging electronic market.

“Sun Ra’s fan base and listeners might be changing and expanding, but you can always expect the end result of my work to highly respect the integrity of the original version. My version emphasizes the flute and percussive parts in this song.”

Check out the first edit, a subtly stripped out version of ‘The Lady With The Golden Stockings’, below, and look out for the 12″ on Strut in February – the tracklist isn’t confirmed yet.

Space-jazz historian Peter Dennett met FACT’s Mr Beatnick recently to talk 100 years of Sun Ra, while Huckaby’s five essential tips for aspiring producers are required reading if you need a shove in the right direction.