Pharoah Sanders: Message From Home

Pharoah Sanders came back in a big way during the mid 1990s, proving that he was still quite capable of the fiery playing that made his reputation in the 1960s and early 1970s. AMG reviewer Richard Ginelli remarked:

The world music-minded producer Bill Laswell gets a hold of Pharoah Sanders here and lo, the sleeping volcano erupts with one of his most fulfilling albums in many a year. Message From Home is rooted in, but not exclusively devoted to, African idioms, as the overpowering hip-hop groove of "Our Roots (Began In Africa)" points out. But the record really develops into something special when Sanders pits his mighty tenor sound against the pan-African beats, like the ecstatically joyful rhythms of "Tomoki" and the poised, percolating fusion of American country & western drums and Nigerian juju guitar riffs on "Country Mile." In addition, "Nozipho" is a concentrated dose of the old Pharoah, heavily spiritual and painfully passionate, with a generous supply of the tenor player's famous screeching rhetoric, and kora virtuoso Foday Musa Suso shows up on "Kumba" with a touch of village Gambian music. This resurrection will quicken the pulse of many an old Pharoah fan.

Pharoah was working a bit with Bill Laswell at the time, appearing on such Laswell-produced joints as Jah Wobble's Heaven and Earth for a couple tracks, as well as performing with and composing music on Maleem Mahmoud Ghania's Trance of Seven Colors. The album does offer a healthy dose of what, for lack of a better term, can be called the Bill Laswell sound - depending on one's perspective that might be a turn-on or a turn-off. Sanders fans will be pleased that the sax legend comes across as firmly in control with the end result an album of world fusion with teeth. A shame it's out of print.

Tracks:

1. Our Roots (Began in Africa) (10:21)
2. Nozipho (9:43)
3. Tomoki (6:26)
4. Ocean Song (8:49)
5. Kumba (7:50)
6. Country Mile (6:03)

Personnel:
Bass - Charnett Moffett , Steve Neil
Drums - Hamid Drake
Guitar - Dominic Kanza
Keyboards - Bernie Worrell , Jeff Bova , William Henderson
Kora - Foday Musa Suso
Percussion - Aiyb Dieng
Producer - Bill Laswell
Saxophone - Pharoah Sanders
Violin - Michael White

Download Message From Home

Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders: The Trance of Seven Colors

This was my first album of Gnawa trance music, and what led me to pick it up in the first place was the mere fact that Pharoah Sanders was on it, and during the late 1990s I was on a Pharoah Sanders binge (much to my wife's chagrin). Once the first few seconds of the first track unfolded, I was hooked, and there was no looking back.

The mid-1990s marked something of a renaissance for Pharoah Sanders, who rediscovered the fierceness of his early years on Sonny Sharrock's last proper studio album Ask the Ages, and subsequently became a highly sought-after sideman on numerous projects (e.g., Franklin Kiermyer's album Solomon's Daughter in which Sanders is part of the quartet, a couple tracks on Jah Wobble's Heaven and Earth, an appearance on a remake of the Last Poets' classic "This is Madness" for the Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool compilation CD). Sanders would shortly thereafter record the album Message From Home. Whether it was drawing on the legacy of Trane's classic quartet era, or pushing the envelop with some fierce playing in hip-hop, alternative rock, or world music genres, Pharoah Sanders was proving a force to be reckoned with once more.

In some respects, this album recalls some of the more world music moments from such Pharoah Sanders albums as Thembi, and his playing is consistently fiery throughout. Not to worry: Sanders does not steal the show, laying out for a couple tracks and ever mindful that the music is the Gnawans' vision. He does get a moment all to himself though - see "Peace in Essaouira (For Sonny Sharrock)" - and his tone is rich and warm as he pays homage to a deceased friend. Bill Laswell produces, but unlike a lot of Laswell joints, this time around Laswell hangs back and simply documents the action. The album feels like some master Gnawa musicians and a jazzer (and friends & family) getting together to party. Somehow I feel physically better whenever I play this recording - that may be merely psychosomatic, but I'd like to believe that this is truly healing music.

Note, I believe this album does tend to circulate around blogtopia. Hopefully I won't be stepping on too many toes, and hopefully the perspective I offer is unique enough to make it worth your while.

Performers:
Maleem Mahmoud Ghania - Guimbri, Lead Vocal, Tbel
Pharoah Sanders - Tenor Saxophone
Maleem Boubker Ghania - Second Guimbri (track 6), Tbel
Maleem Mahmoud Ahkaraz - Tbel (track 8)
Maleem Abdellah Ghania - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
Abdellah Ahkaraz - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
El Moktar Ghania - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
Mohamed Abdellaoui - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
Mohamad Outanine - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
Abdellatif Abdellaoui - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
Hassan Machoure - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
Mohamed Boujmia - Krkaba, Vocal Chorus, Handclaps
Abdellah Lamsuiger - Handclaps

On "Handouchi" only
Hamadcha of Essaouira:
Maleem Abdelkabir Addabachi - Lead Ghaita
Abdelmalak Ben Hamou - Ghaita
Abderrahman Nimini - Tbel
Abdelmoula Hnikkich - Harrz
Mustapha Bouson - Harraz

Female Vocal Chorus
Zaida Ghania - Leader
Mina Ahkaraz, Saida Battach, Fatna Ifis, Fatima Labied, Hafida Ghania, J'mia Ghania, Khadija Ghania, Malika Ghania

Tracks:
1. La Allah Dayim Moulenah (Ghania, Sanders) 11:10
2. Bala Moussaka (Traditional) 3:54
3. Hamdouchi (Traditional) 9:07
4. Peace in Essaouira [For Sonny Sharrock] (Sanders) 7:23
5. Boulandi Samawi (Traditional) 13:56
6. Moussa Berkiyo/Koubaliy Beriah La'foh (Traditional) 4:34
7. Salat Anbi (Traditional) 8:17
8. Casa Casa Atougra (Traditional) 5:05
9. Mahraba (Traditional) 7:48

All tracks are traditional and arranged by Maleem Mahmoud Ghania except:
Track 1: written by Maleem Mahmoud Ghania & Pharoah Sanders
Track 3: Traditional, arranged by Maleem Abdelkabir Addabachi
Track 4: written by Pharoah Sanders

Recorded in the House of the Caid Khoubane in the Medina of Essaouira, District Chbanat, Morocco on June 1, 1994 - June 3, 1994. Released on Axiom, catalogue # 524047.

Download The Trance of Seven Colors

Pharoah Sanders: Wisdom Through Music

Another gem from Pharoah Sanders' Impulse! days. What I'm sharing is the album as it's circulated around the usual p2p sources. Sound quality should be pretty decent, but beware that the track "Love is Everywhere" that I have seems to be cut short - over two minutes seem to be missing. I've also corrected a couple errors ("High Life" and "Wisdom Through Music" seem to have been mislabeled) [Thanks to a comment, those errors are no longer an issue - see new link at the end of this post]. Regrettably I have no access to the original album, but maybe someone here will be able to rip a better set of mp3s. The celebratory "High Life" is Sanders' interpretation of the West African style of music by that name - a style that Sanders would revisit from time to time during his career. "Love is Everywhere" is an abbreviated version of the extended track appearing on the album Love in Us All. The title track is a slow moving meditative drone with plenty of Badal Roy's tabla playing. There seems to be some uncredited vocal and kora playing on "Golden Lamp" - a tune that has an almost folky feel to it. The final track starts out as a slow predominantly vocal hymn that eventually gets cooking - some very spirited, fast-paced free-form instrumental jamming. Roy's presence contributes a distinctly South Asian feel to the tracks appearing after "High Life."

Interesting bit of trivia: flutist James Branch is also known as James "Plunky" Branch - the guiding spirit behind the legendary 1970s jazz combo Juju and Oneness of Juju (a band that is still alive and kicking in one form or another). Tabla player Badal Roy and percussionist Mtume played together in Miles Davis' touring and studio band in the early 1970s.

The info: Impulse! catalogue # AS 9233. Copyright 1973 - presumably released 1974.

Personnel:

Pharoah Sanders - Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Flute
James Branch - Flute
Joseph Bonner - Piano
Cecil McBee - Bass
Lawrence Killian - Percussion
James Mtume - Percussion
Babadal Roy - Percussion
Norman Connors - Drums

Tracks:

1. High Life
2. Love is Everywhere
3. Wisdom Through Music
4. Golden Lamp
5. Selflessness

Download Wisdom Through Music via Magic of Juju!

Pharoah Sanders: Live at the East

The work of Pharoah Sanders seemed fitting for a 100th post. Live at the East is one of several albums from Sanders' Impulse! days that has yet to see a proper reissue in the US (an effort to reissue the Impulse! back catalogue was aborted at the end of the 1990s). It's a bit of a shame really, as the music on this album is nothing short of stunning. It's been a couple years since anyone in blogtopia posted Live at the East (see Orgy in Rhythm, who provides some excellent commentary), so I figure the time is ripe for a new upload. I came by my first set of mp3 files for this album on the old Napster - the sound quality was dodgy, but after reading so many tantalizing descriptions of the album, I was just thankful to have the opportunity to hear the tunes at all. The sound files I'm providing here are considerably higher quality - I found them on Soulseek about four years ago. "Healing Song" takes up much of the first side of the original LP, opening with the lush sound of piano, percussion, and voice over which Sanders offers up a lilting melody before letting loose. The piece is very free, but never overwhelming, instead lulling the listener into a near-meditative state before reaching its climax. Bassists Cecil McBee and Stanley Clarke get to showcase their mad skillz about five or so minutes into the piece, setting a fairly funky pace for the rest of the performers. Since Joe Bonner co-wrote the piece, it's not too surprising that his piano work is front and center. "Lumkili" starts out with a similar sax line that began the first piece, but goes in a somewhat different direction - the warm sounds he offers up would not seem out of place on, say, some of his later albums like Journey to the One. After that rather laid-back tune, the session closes with "Memories of J. W. Coltrane" which goes for a monastic vibe: the gentle bells, gong, harmonium, bailophone, and bass provide a drone over which the vocalists slowly chant. Given the spiritual direction of John and Alice Coltrane toward the end of John's life, this seems like a fitting tribute to a great artist and mentor. Here, Sanders' sax serves merely as another chanting voice - almost Tibetan on the occasions when it briefly appears.

Impulse! Catalogue # AS-9227

Personnel:
Pharoah Sanders - Saxophone
Cecil McBee - Bass
Stanley Clarke - Bass
Lawrence Killian - Congas, Percussion [Bailophone]
Norman Connors - Drums
William Hart - Drums
Carlos Garnett - Flute, Voice
Joseph Bonner - Piano, Harmonium
Harold Vic - Tenor Vocals
Marvin Peterson - Trumpet

Tracks:
1. Healing Song (Sanders/Bonner) - 21:37
2. Lumkili (Sanders) - 8:43
3. Memories of J. W. Coltrane (Sanders) - 12:51

Dowload Live at the East