Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders (1940 to 2022) had one of the most distinctive tenor saxophone sounds in jazz: harmonically rich, heavy with overtones, capable of screams as raw as any the instrument has produced and of a tenderness to match. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, he made his name in John Coltrane's late ensembles of the mid 1960s, playing an expressionistic, near anarchic free jazz. His own records for Impulse! took a different path: Karma (1969), with "The Creator Has a Master Plan", and the albums that followed mixed modal grooves, African percussion and chant into a spiritual jazz that has been rediscovered by every generation since.
Pharoah Sanders (1940 to 2022) had one of the most distinctive tenor saxophone sounds in jazz: harmonically rich, heavy with overtones, capable of screams as raw as any the instrument has produced and of a tenderness to match. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, he made his name in John Coltrane's late ensembles of the mid 1960s, playing an expressionistic, near anarchic free jazz. His own records for Impulse! took a different path: Karma (1969), with "The Creator Has a Master Plan", and the albums that followed mixed modal grooves, African percussion and chant into a spiritual jazz that has been rediscovered by every generation since.
Meditations
Following the genre-redefining revelations of A Love Supreme in 1965, John Coltrane began a dramatic shift toward spiritual free jazz, abandoning familiar forms in favor of a more abstract sonic palette and bold questions he'd spend the rest of his life and career pursuing. Meditations, released by Impulse! in 1966, continues that emotional throughline while retaining, for the last time in full, the classic quartet that propelled Trane to greatness: pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison an…
Moon Child
Paris, Studio Davout, 12 and 23 October 1989. Pharoah Sanders with William Henderson on piano, Stafford James on bass, Eddie Moore on drums and Cheikh Tidiane Fall on percussion. Produced by Wim Wigt for Timeless, released in 1990.
The Penguin Guide called it the straightest jazz album Sanders had made for years, and heard what he was after: a hypnotic groove that lets the horn float almost at will. Steve Loewy at AllMusic writes that the results may have disappointed some fans at the time, but …
Africa
Studio 44, Monster, Holland, 11 March 1987. One day. Pharoah Sanders with John Hicks on piano, Curtis Lundy on bass and Idris Muhammad on drums, a band he kept for years. Produced by Wim Wigt for Timeless.
The record is built around Coltrane. Loewy at AllMusic writes that most listeners will prefer the originals to Sanders's imitations, but calls Africa a joyous and worthy tribute. AllMusic's survey of the Timeless years is warmer: it hears the title track's highlife melody undercut by Hicks's p…
Message From Home
Pharoah Sanders' 1996 Verve album with Bill Laswell producing, Foday Musa Suso, Hamid Drake, Bernie Worrell and Charnett Moffett: hip-hop pulse, Gambian kora and the full-cry tenor on one record. Back on vinyl for the first time since the rare French original, on 180g black vinyl
Ptah, The El Daoud
Very rare original US edition on Impulse!/ABC of the 1970 album featuring Pharoah Sanders, Joe Henderson and Ron Carter.
Live In Seattle (2LP)
1974 US re-issue on Impulse!/ABC of the 1971 double-album with a 1965 live recording featuring Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner. With original innersleeve.
Izipho Zam
"Strata-East present a reissue of Pharoah Sanders's Izipho Zam (My Gifts), originally released in 1973. "Popular and increasingly in demand, Izipho Zam (My Gifts) falls into the 'rare' category among record collectors and is a gift to fans of master Pharoah Sanders. This demand is partially galvanized by the fact that 'Prince Of Peace' has become an inspirational mine to hip hop artists and is much loved by samplers.
Izipho Zam is Pharoah Sander's third album, initially recorded in January 1969,…
Another Earth (LP)
1970's re-issue on Milestone of the 1969 album featuring Pharoah Sanders.
Another Earth (LP)
1970's re-issue on Milestone of the 1969 album featuring Pharoah Sanders.
The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (2LP)
1980 re-issue on JCOA Records of the 1968 double-album by Michael Mantler's big band featuring Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry, Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Lyons, Alan Silva, Charlie Haden, Kent Carter, Andrew Cyrille, Carla Bley, Steve Lacy and Gato Barbieri and many others.
The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (2LP)
1980 re-issue on JCOA Records of the 1968 double-album by Michael Mantler's big band featuring Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry, Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Lyons, Alan Silva, Charlie Haden, Kent Carter, Andrew Cyrille, Carla Bley, Steve Lacy and Gato Barbieri and many others.
Ascension (LP)
1974 re-issue on Impluse! of the Edition I of the 1966 album featuring Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, John Tchicai, Marion Brown, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner.
Live At The Village Vanguard Again! (LP)
1980 Japanese re-issue on MCA's "Impulse Definitive 1500 Yen Collection" of the 1966 live album featuring Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Jimmy Garrison and Rashied Ali. With insert.
Live At The Village Vanguard Again! (LP)
1997 US re-issue on 180g vinyl on Impulse!'s "The Impulse! Reissue Series" of the 1966 live album featuring Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Jimmy Garrison and Rashied Ali.
Kulu Sé Mama (LP)
1980 Japanese re-issue on Impulse!/MCA of the 1966 album featuring Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner. With insert.
Meditations (LP)
1968 US re-press on Impulse!/ABC of the 1966 album featuring Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, Rashied Ali and McCoy Tyner. With original innersleeve.
Meditations (LP)
1968 US re-press on Impulse!/ABC of the 1966 album featuring Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, Rashied Ali and McCoy Tyner.
Karma (LP)
Rare original US edition on Impulse!/ABC of the 1969 album. With original innersleeve.
Timeless Records: From the Archives (1974-1991)
On Timeless Records: From The Archives (1974–1991), Antal rethreads the Dutch label’s glory years into a double‑LP of modal and spiritual fire - from Pharoah Sanders to Art Blakey, Woody Shaw and beyond - built for dancers, diggers and late‑night headphones alike.
Duo Concert Frankfurt 1986
Duo Concert Frankfurt 1986 was recorded live in Germany on February 15th. The album captures tenor icon Pharoah Sanders and celebrated pianist John Hicks in a moment of profound musical harmony. Sanders, known for his evolution from fierce free-jazz to deeply lyrical spiritualist, plays here with warmth, focus and emotional clarity. Hicks meets him with luminous touch, rich voicings and an intuitive sense of space that elevates every phrase. Together they deliver a beautifully balanced set of Co…