Pharoah Sanders

[ep1str0phy]

The Theresas are pretty inconsistent, but I'm a big fan of Rejoice. Some beautiful duets on that one--not the fire 'of old,' but Pharoah's tone is true and beautiful.

[Chuck Nessa]

I "turned" on Sanders quickly. Did not keep any vinyl or purchase any cds.

Yours truly,

TIP

[B. Clugston]

Versions of "Venus" and "Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt" appear in the Ayler box. Not as good as the studio versions, but historically interesting and Ayler blows the roof off during his solo.

[alocispepraluger102]

he did some great work on at least one of the sonny sharrock late recordings.

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=17594

Edited October 21, 2006 by alocispepraluger102

[erhodes]

I "turned" on Sanders quickly. Did not keep any vinyl or purchase any cds.

Yours truly,

TIP

Ditto. We can rejoin ways here, Chuck, though I won't clog the thread. Pharoah for me was '64-'68, w/ Ra, Trane, Cherry, and the Jazz Composer's Orchestra. A singular presence. Have heard nothing like it since, including by Pharoah, though I saw several of the post-Trane bands live, e.g., w/ J.C. Moses, Leon.

[ep1str0phy]

he did some great work on at least one of the sonny sharrock late recordings.

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=17594

Ask the Ages is, AFAIC, the best Pharoah on record since the earlier 70's. It contains some of PS's most powerful, focused energy playing in a studio setting--and in the 90's, too! The rest of the cast (Sonny, Charnett Moffett, Elvin Jones) ain't bad either. Also--it's probably the least obtrusive Laswell production on record (and the most well-integrated overdubbing on a free jazz album I've heard).

[brownie]

Here are the Theresa's. I haven't heard a single note of them.

Pharoah Sanders on Theresa

1. Journey to The One - 1980

2. Live - 1981

3. Rejoice - 1981

4. Shukuru - 1981

5. Heart is a Melody - 1982

6. A Prayer Before Dawn - 1987

Those Theresas made me move away from Pharoah's music. None of his later releases have made me regret this

Not that they're bad but there's so much more compelling music elsewhere!

[danasgoodstuff]

Ask the Ages is my fav Sanders, fav Sharrock too. I suspect Laswell is a big part of that, his production here is fairly unobtrusive (for him) but it's definitely there... What I've Heard of the Impulses (Tahud, Karma & Thembi all the way through, bits and pieces of others) always seeems unfocussed to me - grand entrances, stirring moments seperated by lots of tedium...

[Tony Pusey]

I am with Chuck and Ed this time round, bought all of the Impulses as they came out on CD a few years ago, sort of dug them at the time, but found that I filed them away pretty quickly. When I reauditined them 2 years ago I found no compelling reason to hang on to them, did keep Black Unity tho, and do play his ESP album rather more than most other stuff on the label.

[Kyo]

Pharoah Sanders on Impulse!

1. Tauhid - November 1966

2. Karma - February 1969

3. Jewels of Thought - October 1969

4. Summun Bukmun Umyun - July 1970

5. Thembi - November 1970 & January 1971

7. Black Unity - November 1971

8. Village of the Pharoahs - December 1971, November 1972, September 1973

10. Elevation - September 1973

I like all of those.

6. Live at The East - 1971

9. Wisdom Through Music - 1972

11. Love In Us All - 1973

Still don't have any of these three on CD. Love In Us All came out as a regular

CD in Japan about a month ago. I'll probably pick it up next year (once my

self-imposed CD buying sabbatical is over).

Here are the Theresa's. I haven't heard a single note of them.

Pharoah Sanders on Theresa

1. Journey to The One - 1980

2. Live - 1981

3. Rejoice - 1981

4. Shukuru - 1981

5. Heart is a Melody - 1982

6. A Prayer Before Dawn - 1987

I like all of those, too. Quite different, but very enjoyable for me.

[alocispepraluger102]

Ask the Ages is my fav Sanders, fav Sharrock too. I suspect Laswell is a big part of that, his production here is fairly unobtrusive (for him) but it's definitely there... What I've Heard of the Impulses (Tahud, Karma & Thembi all the way through, bits and pieces of others) always seeems unfocussed to me - grand entrances, stirring moments seperated by lots of tedium...

well stated. i concur.

[felser]

I have always found the Impulse's to each have their moments, and each have their dross. 'Black Unity' was the most consistent for me. While I'm as horrified in general as the next guy at the idea of jazz "best of" collections, it may actually make sense for Sanders. There's a good one on him called 'You-ve Got To Have Freedom' which collects a lot of the highlights and leaves behind a lot of stuff best left behind. My favorite Sanders is actually 'Africa', which came out on Timeless in the late 80's. A great rhythm section (Hicks/Lundy/Muhammad) and career highlights in the versions of his "You've Got To Have Freedom" and Hicks' beautiful "After The Morning". I also like 'Crescent With Love' quite a bit. Both of these are consistently strong, unlike his other work. Another Sanders highlight is the album he did with Art Davis on Soul Note, 'Life'. Lousy recording quality, but amazing music. It is also a quarter with Hicks (loved his playing in general) and Muhammad.

[.:.impossible]

Of all the Pharoah Sanders recordings I own, many listed above, over the past few years I've found myself going straight to "Spirits" released on Meta five or six years ago. I think it has to do, mostly in part, to the presence (and a huge presence it is) of Adam Rudolph, but Pharaoh's playing is inspired throughout most of the performance. How could it not be...

The other is also on Meta, called "Twelve Arrows". Performed with a dancer, I'm afraid we don't get the full impact of the piece, but the music can be damned good.

Edited October 21, 2006 by .:.impossible

[7/4]

Another very good one!

[ep1str0phy]

I have always found the Impulse's to each have their moments, and each have their dross. 'Black Unity' was the most consistent for me. While I'm as horrified in general as the next guy at the idea of jazz "best of" collections, it may actually make sense for Sanders. There's a good one on him called 'You-ve Got To Have Freedom' which collects a lot of the highlights and leaves behind a lot of stuff best left behind. My favorite Sanders is actually 'Africa', which came out on Timeless in the late 80's. A great rhythm section (Hicks/Lundy/Muhammad) and career highlights in the versions of his "You've Got To Have Freedom" and Hicks' beautiful "After The Morning". I also like 'Crescent With Love' quite a bit. Both of these are consistently strong, unlike his other work. Another Sanders highlight is the album he did with Art Davis on Soul Note, 'Life'. Lousy recording quality, but amazing music. It is also a quarter with Hicks (loved his playing in general) and Muhammad.

Good call on Life, felser. The sound does suck, but there's some hardcore Pharoah on there. For the more 'inside' bent, this is probably one of his better sides.

[chris olivarez]

I liked "Summum Bukmun Umyun" as well as "Thembi". I haven't played "Karma" in such a long time that to be honest with you I really don't remember it and on "Jewels of Thought" I liked the opening number with Leon Thomas and after that I just couldn't deal. The rest of the Impulse sides I haven't heard. I really wasn't aware that Pharoah had such a lengthy history with the label.

[Late]

I think Thembi, in general, gets a bad rap. The album's pretty darn good for what it is. If only for Cecil McBee's solo track alone — Jesus! Nobody ain't got nothin' on McBee.

Oh — Verve Japan released two "best-of" discs (Vol.s 1&2) of Pharoah's Impulse! recordings. I can't remember the titles right now (they're fairly generic), but that might be a good (distilled) way to approach this period of Sanders' work.

[Guy Berger]

I am listening to Summun... for the first time -- it's great!

Guy

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Funny; been playing a bit of Pharoah this morning. "Spirits" on at this moment.

Always loved his playing. NO ONE plays the blues like Pharoah! And goes right back to Illinois Jacquet, Gator Tail, Arnett Cobb and the other honkers.

I've bought all the Impulses except "Village of the Pharoashs" - but not on day of issue stuff - and didn't keep "Summum" or "Wisdom through music". Only bought "Elevation" last year.

Bought - and kept - all the Theresas. I prefer most of them to most of the Impulses. "Rejoice" is a miracle, I feel. So is "Lord let me do no wrong".

Also have the ESP, "Izipho Zam", the one on India Navigation, called "Pharoah", which is very nice. Never bought his Arista album "Love will find a way"; his 4th and biggest hit album (unsurprisingly).

But the Timeless and Venus albums and are all great to listen to.

I really like his work with Bill Laswell, particularly "The trance of seven colours", with Maleem Mahmoud Ghania, which I've also been playing this morning. But "Message from home" is wonderful - "Our roots belong to Africa" - yessir! (Though "Save our children" seemed a bit mealy-mouthed to me and I gave up on him until last year.)

To me, the Sanders' I love most are:

Karma

Rejoice

Pharoah Sanders Live

Lord, let me do no wrong

Message from home

As a sideman, I love his work on Benny Golson's "This is for you John" and on the Elvin Jones/McCoy Tyner "Reunion". And then there's his stuff with Trane...

MG

[7/4]

I really like his work with Bill Laswell, particularly "The trance of seven colours", with Maleem Mahmoud Ghania, which I've also been playing this morning.

A monster album, I do say...love it. I would welcome a dozen albums like this.

[Lush Life]

The only Pharaoh Sanders album I ever owned (and, the only one I've ever heard...) is "Love In Us All"

Somehow, I don't even remember how, I acquired a copy of the vinyl when it first came out in 1974. And I thought "Love Is Everywhere" was fantastic. I've been looking for a CD for the last several years, since the vinyl and I were parted long ago...so I'm glad to see it finally has been issued in Japan.

I'm not certain how representative this particular work is for Sanders, but I gather that folks here either love it or hate it.

[7/4]

I've said it many times before, I either love it or hate it.

[brownie]

Pharaoh's best on Impulse was his first 'Tauhid'.

Others were good but none was better!

[7/4]

Pharaoh's best on Impulse was his first 'Tauhid'.

Others were good but none was better!

Even Karma??? Time for a Pharoah Impulse fest to refresh my memory. Maybe this weekend...

[Kari S]

There's a 2CD compilation released by UK label Soul Brother, called "You've Got To Have Freedom - The Pharoah Sanders Anthology".

Some of the songs have been edited, to make it a bit more "accessible". It's fine by me, sometimes Pharoah can be...a bit too much. It's not also Impulse! exclusive, but has stuff from his later years as well.

------

I also like this from 1973, "Village Of The Pharoahs"