by Sean WestergaardFate in a Pleasant Mood, recorded in 1960, finds the Arkestra at the very end of their Chicago days. The tunes still have that '50s Arkestra sound (great horn arrangements, prominent tympani), although there is an increasing use of dissonance and the arrangements are more spare, thanks to a dwindling Arkestra. Ra sticks to piano on these tracks, with excellent flute contributions from Marshall Allen and some fine trumpet as well, mostly courtesy of Phil Cohran. Gilmore shines on Ankhnaton and Distant Stars. Most of the tunes still have strong ties to bop and swing, although Space Mates and Kingdom of Thunder point the way to a percussion-led sound that would be further explored after the band relocated to New York. [Now available paired with When Sun Comes Out on the Evidence label.]