Pharaoh Sanders & John Hicks

A Match Truly Made in Heaven

Over the past sixty years, especially during the three-plus decades I lived in and around New York, I’ve had the privilege of hearing some of the greatest musicians on the planet—at concerts, clubs, festivals, and various other venues. Music has always uplifted my soul, inspired me, picked me up when I was down, and elevated me when I was in the zone. It’s been a constant source of solace and joy in my life.

There’s truly nothing like listening to a group of jazz musicians who are completely in sync, creating as one, and pushing each other to reach new heights. One such group I had the pleasure of hearing live several times was the Pharaoh Sanders Quartet when the group included pianist John Hicks, bassist Walter Booker, and drummer Idris Muhammad. Fortunately, their performances are documented in recordings, and, on YouTube videos.

I first heard John Hicks live on Labor Day in 1966. Growing up in baby boomer suburbia, I discovered jazz and would often take the train to New York to visit the Village Vanguard—the Mecca of the kind of jazz that inspired me. Around that time, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra had just begun their residency, and I was eager to hear them live for the first time. But to my dismay, the Vanguard was closed for the holiday. Undeterred, I knew there was plenty of music to explore in Greenwich Village that night.

At the Five Spot, I stumbled upon a group of musicians who were new to me but would soon become some of my favorites, and eventually, my friends. Gary Bartz was on alto, Charles Tolliver on trumpet, John Hicks was on piano (though I can’t recall the bassist), and Jack DeJohnette was on drums.

They all played brilliantly that night, but John Hicks truly blew me away. His command of the piano was extraordinary, and the energy and excitement he brought to everything he played were palpable. Shortly after that gig, I bought Booker Ervin’s *Structurally Sound*, featuring John Hicks on piano. I’ve been a devoted fan ever since.

In the 1970s, I often hung out at the Tin Palace when the late Stanley Crouch was booking the room. Crouch had a keen ear for music, and night after night, some of the city’s best musicians delivered some of the finest performances I’ve ever heard. The club was also a hangout for musicians who supported and inspired one another.

John Hicks was a regular at the Tin Palace, consistently impressing both audiences and his fellow musicians. I recall one night when he was taking a solo, and two or three other pianists were standing behind him, listening intently, trying to absorb some of his magic.

Pharaoh Sanders was also part of that scene, and by the early eighties, he had formed the quartet featured in this video. When Pharaoh first emerged in the mid-60s with Coltrane, his playing was free and exploratory. Some dismissed it as mere noise, but it always moved me. Over time, Pharaoh returned to his blues and straight-ahead roots.

When Pharaoh played with John Hicks, it felt like a divine experience. Some of that magic was captured at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco in 1985 when they performed John Hicks’ composition Yemanja. Pay attention to the elevated energy during Hicks’ solo, especially when he locks up with bassist Walter Brooker and drummer Idris Muhammad. Known for his superb New Orleans groove, Idris swings straight ahead here, creating breathtaking climaxes throughout Hicks’ energetic solo.

On Friday, please join me for “This Revolution Will Be Televised.”

Until we meet again, let your conscience be your guide.