Bizarre Bazaar
Thursday September 29th, 2022 with DJ Out-Regis
Please join me in celebrating the career of Pharaoh Sanders.
This is part one of a three part series during which we explore the career and life of tenor saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders.
| Primitive The 613s - Single release - Independent 2013 
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| Spirits The Albert Ayler Trio - Spiritual Unity - ESP disks 1965 |
| While Pharaoh Sanders does not appear on this track, it was nonetheless chosen to illustrate the natural affinity that existed between Sanders and Ayler, who famously said "Trane was the Father, Pharaoh was the Son, I am the Holy Ghost". While Ayler made significant contributions the free jazz movement of the 1960s, his unorthodox style was at times incongruent with that movement, which is why he was appreciated by the likes of Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor and of course Pharaoh Sanders. It is my honest opinion that Ayler's unorthodoxy paved the way for Pharaoh Sanders's unique style and approach to the saxophone. |
| The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost John Coltrane - Meditations - Impulse records 1966 |
| Before recording his own albums, Pharaoh Sanders first appears on several of John Coltrane's albums. The first one being 1966's Ascension. To Coltrane fans, following A Love Supreme, Ascension is his most important work since it is considered by many the quintessential free jazz album. Music from 1966 Meditations was chosen here for two reasons. Firstly, it was the first album during which Pharaoh and Coltrane both feature as tenor saxophone soloists on equal footing. Secondly, this was the last Coltrane recording to feature his classic quartet lineup of himself, bassist Jimmy Garrison, drummer Elvin Jones and pianist McCoy Tyner. |
| Welcome John Coltrane - Kulu sé Mana - Impulse records 1967 |
| Pharoah Sanders appears on two tracks of this album, the last one released during Coltrane's life. While Pharaoh does not appear on Welcome, it was nonetheless selected tonight because of its significance. The liner notes of this album offer us a quote from Coltrane in which he says of this track "it marks that feeling you have when you finally do reach an awareness, an understanding which you have earned through struggle. It is a feeling of peace. A welcome feeling of peace." At the time of this album's release, Sanders has been privy to much of Coltrane's struggles and his health's decline due to the liver cancer that would ultimately claim his life. The kinship between both reaches here its ultimate propinquity and is surpassed only by the love that Alice Coltrane has for her late husband. |
| Ohnedaruth Alice Coltrane - A monastic Trio - Impulse 1968 |
| Journey in Satchidananda Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda (featuring Pharaoh Sanders) - Impulse 1971 |
| Tracks from the both these albums feature important contributions by Pharaoh Sanders to what are meant to be long and heartfelt farewells to friend and mentor John Coltrane. The bond between men both cannot be understated. |
| Cosmic Interpretation Sun Ra and his Arkestra featuring Pharaoh Sanders and Black Harold - Sun Ra and his Arkestra featuring Pharaoh Sanders and Black Harold - ESP 1964 |
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8:00 PM, September 29th, 2022