Your book arrived on Monday and I'm about thirty pages into it. Great read. It's always interesting to see how music directly transforms people's lives. I've only seen Pharoah live once, at Catalina's about twenty years ago. William Henderson on piano, Alex Blake on bass, and the unexpected but worthy Ralph Penland on drums. I thought the stage would levitate from all that energy.
...Bret, the thread has twice shut off on me in mid comment so this is my last try...my 1st show while in high school in '71 in the Bronx was @VV with Leon Thomas...only the 2nd "live" jazz Id seen...It was overwhelming! alternating pure fire and sublime beauty, as u know...at sweet Basil mid 80s, again with Leon...I was visiting my folks in NYC as I was in school UCSB...I had just bought a Hasselblad and "had" to get a good seat...I was 1st in line and I gave the hostess $20 to sit me up front...unforgettable! so many more but he performed with my dear friend Azar Lawrence in celebration of Pharoah's 80th...he was still bringing' it though obvious in shorter bursts...he was not well, moving slowly ...I took several nice photos...it was the last time I saw The Master!!!!
Thanks for putting the sound samples up, that was great to listen to. I had no idea Stanley Clarke played with Pharoah -- was this around the time he was playing with Stan Getz?
I was imagining a duo recording with just Cecil McBee and Pharoah Sanders -- two of my favourite players ever, in stark relief, radiating chthonic soul.
Pharoah did a couple of albums with Bill Laswell when I was in charge at Verve in the ‘90s. We had a few really pleasant conversations. I remember the final one, where we were talking about some of the new music he wanted to record, digging deeper into Pan African and transcontinental Asian music. I said to him “Pharoah, you’re a Jazz musician but also really a World Musician.” He replied, “I like being a World Musician,” then after a pause he asked, “Do they have a category called Universal Musician?”
I saw Pharoah for the first time with Bill Laswell when we were still in high school and good friends. He and I were both blown away. Thing was I knew then that Bill got him on a much deepra level than I did right from the beginning. Gotta shout out Bill’s struggling with health right now and keeping things together.Sorry to make this personal, I care about him. Excuse me.
Bret, as a sop to ego I say amen. I know you don't need no ego sop. This is one of your finest excursions. I don't know what else to call them. You teach me about music that I've been listening to since I was twelve. You just gave me a refreshed vision of Pharoah's music. I once tried to bluster my way into Pharoah's dressing room at the Both/And but I was blocked by a phalanx of bodyguards. I just wanted to thank him.
Your book arrived on Monday and I'm about thirty pages into it. Great read. It's always interesting to see how music directly transforms people's lives. I've only seen Pharoah live once, at Catalina's about twenty years ago. William Henderson on piano, Alex Blake on bass, and the unexpected but worthy Ralph Penland on drums. I thought the stage would levitate from all that energy.
Glad you're enjoying the book, Todd. And happy you got to hear Pharoah live with such a good band.
Grateful to have heard over 100 sets by the great Pharoah Sanders!!
Could you mention what you consider several of the most memorable.
...Bret, the thread has twice shut off on me in mid comment so this is my last try...my 1st show while in high school in '71 in the Bronx was @VV with Leon Thomas...only the 2nd "live" jazz Id seen...It was overwhelming! alternating pure fire and sublime beauty, as u know...at sweet Basil mid 80s, again with Leon...I was visiting my folks in NYC as I was in school UCSB...I had just bought a Hasselblad and "had" to get a good seat...I was 1st in line and I gave the hostess $20 to sit me up front...unforgettable! so many more but he performed with my dear friend Azar Lawrence in celebration of Pharoah's 80th...he was still bringing' it though obvious in shorter bursts...he was not well, moving slowly ...I took several nice photos...it was the last time I saw The Master!!!!
Bret, thanks for the beautiful essay...pure TRUTH!
Thanks for putting the sound samples up, that was great to listen to. I had no idea Stanley Clarke played with Pharoah -- was this around the time he was playing with Stan Getz?
I was imagining a duo recording with just Cecil McBee and Pharoah Sanders -- two of my favourite players ever, in stark relief, radiating chthonic soul.
Peace and happiness amigos
Pharoah did a couple of albums with Bill Laswell when I was in charge at Verve in the ‘90s. We had a few really pleasant conversations. I remember the final one, where we were talking about some of the new music he wanted to record, digging deeper into Pan African and transcontinental Asian music. I said to him “Pharoah, you’re a Jazz musician but also really a World Musician.” He replied, “I like being a World Musician,” then after a pause he asked, “Do they have a category called Universal Musician?”
Sorry to hear about Bill. An extraordinary artist and person.
thanx for the reply. there is a Go Fund Me, Help Bill Laswell. Anything helps, anything. thanx again ☯️
I saw Pharoah for the first time with Bill Laswell when we were still in high school and good friends. He and I were both blown away. Thing was I knew then that Bill got him on a much deepra level than I did right from the beginning. Gotta shout out Bill’s struggling with health right now and keeping things together.Sorry to make this personal, I care about him. Excuse me.
Bret, as a sop to ego I say amen. I know you don't need no ego sop. This is one of your finest excursions. I don't know what else to call them. You teach me about music that I've been listening to since I was twelve. You just gave me a refreshed vision of Pharoah's music. I once tried to bluster my way into Pharoah's dressing room at the Both/And but I was blocked by a phalanx of bodyguards. I just wanted to thank him.