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Pharoah Sanders

Biography

Pharoah Sanders, born Ferrell Lee Sanders on October 13, 1940, in Little Rock, Arkansas, was a pioneering American jazz saxophonist whose career spanned over five decades and left an indelible mark on the genres of free jazz and spiritual jazz[2][3]. Growing up in a musical family during the Jim Crow era, Sanders began his musical journey on the clarinet, accompanying church hymns, before discovering the tenor saxophone in high school under the guidance of band director Jimmy Cannon[3][6]. His early exposure to jazz in Little Rock’s segregated clubs and his move to Oakland, California, after high school, where he studied art and music and performed with local musicians, laid the foundation for his eclectic style—encompassing bebop, rhythm and blues, classical, and free jazz[1][4].

In 1961, Sanders relocated to New York City, where he struggled initially but soon became a central figure in the avant-garde jazz scene, mentored by Sun Ra and profoundly influenced by John Coltrane, with whom he played in the mid-1960s on landmark albums such as Ascension and Meditations[1][2]. Sanders’ own recordings, beginning with Tauhid in 1967 and including the iconic Karma (1969), showcased his distinctive sound—marked by overblowing, multiphonics, and a spiritual intensity that became his signature[1][2]. Over his career, Sanders released more than thirty albums as a leader, evolving from the raw, expressionistic free jazz of his early years to a more meditative, lyrical approach in later decades, without ever losing the emotional depth that defined his work[1][4]. Sanders passed away on September 24, 2022, in Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy as one of the last icons of his generation and a defining voice in spiritual jazz[2][7].

Fun Facts

  • Pharoah Sanders was known as 'Little Rock' in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene before adopting his iconic stage name[1][4].
  • Early in his New York career, Sanders was often homeless and sometimes had to pawn his saxophone to make ends meet[4].
  • Sanders’ grandmother wanted to name him after the pharaohs in the Bible, but settled on Ferrell; he later chose 'Pharoah' as his professional name when joining the New York musicians’ union[2].
  • As a high school student, Sanders temporarily took over as band director at his school when the regular director left, despite still being a student himself[3].

Associated Acts

  • Pharoah Sanders Quintet - alto saxophone, eponymous, original, tenor saxophone
  • Pharoah Sanders Quartet - eponymous, original, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Ed Kelly & Friend - original, tenor saxophone
  • Elvin Jones McCoy Tyner Quintet

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • John Coltrane - Primary musical mentor and collaborator; Sanders was a member of Coltrane’s late ensembles and was deeply influenced by his spiritual approach to jazz (Ascension, Meditations) [1965–1967]
  • Sun Ra - Provided mentorship and support during Sanders’ early years in New York, including housing and encouragement to adopt the name 'Pharoah' (N/A (personal mentorship)) [Early 1960s]
  • Jimmy Cannon - High school band director who introduced Sanders to jazz and the tenor saxophone (N/A (educational)) [Late 1950s]

Key Collaborators

  • Leon Thomas - Frequent collaborator and vocalist, known for his yodeling on Sanders’ recordings (Karma) [Late 1960s–1970s]
  • Alice Coltrane - Collaborated on several spiritual jazz projects following John Coltrane’s death (Journey in Satchidananda, Ptah, the El Daoud) [1970s]
  • Lonnie Liston Smith - Pianist and key collaborator on Sanders’ album Karma (Karma) [1969]
  • Billy Higgins - Drummer in Sanders’ early groups and on key recordings (Pharoah’s First) [1960s]
  • Don Cherry - Played with Sanders in New York’s free jazz scene (N/A (live performances)) [1960s]

Artists Influenced

  • Kamasi Washington - Modern saxophonist cited as influenced by Sanders’ spiritual and free jazz innovations (The Epic) [2010s–present]
  • Shabaka Hutchings - Contemporary British saxophonist who has acknowledged Sanders’ impact on his approach to spiritual jazz (N/A) [2010s–present]
  • Albert Ayler - Mutual influence within the free jazz movement; Ayler referred to Sanders as 'the Son' in the jazz lineage (N/A) [1960s]

Connection Network

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Promises 2021-03-26 Album
Promises 2021-03-26 Album
Love Will Find a Way (Expanded Edition) 1978-01-01 Album
Wisdom Through Music 1973-01-01 Album
Thembi 1971 Album
Africa 2008-10-03 Album
Karma 1969 Album
Promises 2021-03-26 Album
Elevation (Live) 1973-01-01 Album
Alex Attias Presents Lillygood Party Vol. 2 2020-03-20 Album
Pharoah 2023-09-15 Album
Pharoah 2023-09-15 Album
Tauhid 1993-01-01 Album
Moon Child 1990 Album
Love In Us All 1974-01-01 Album

Top Tracks

  1. Journey In Satchidananda (Journey in Satchidananda)
  2. Love Will Find a Way (Love Will Find a Way (Expanded Edition))
  3. Love Is Everywhere (Wisdom Through Music)
  4. Astral Traveling (Thembi)
  5. Movement 6 (Promises)
  6. Movement 1 (Promises)
  7. Movement 6 (Promises)
  8. Movement 3 (Promises)
  9. Stopover Bombay (Journey in Satchidananda)
  10. Movement 1 (Promises)

Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #avant-garde-jazz, #blues

Heard on WWOZ

Pharoah Sanders has been played 16 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station. Showing the 10 most recent plays.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 11, 202516:57THE CREATOR HAS A MASTER PLANfrom LOVE IS HERE - THE COMPLETE PARIS 1975 ORTF RECORDINGSJazz from Jax Breweryw/ Keith Hill
Dec 8, 202507:19Moon Raysfrom Moon ChildThe Morning Setw/ Stuart Hall
Dec 7, 202520:35Love Is Everywherefrom Wisdom Through MusicSpirits of Congo Squarew/ Baba Geno
Dec 3, 202518:36you've got to have freedomfrom journey to the oneJazz from Jax Breweryw/ Al Colón
Nov 28, 202516:43Yemenjafrom Journey To The OneJazz from Jax Breweryw/ Charles Burchell
Nov 20, 202518:20Astral Travelingfrom ThembiJazz from Jax Breweryw/ Keith Hill
Nov 20, 202517:25Love Is Herefrom Love Is HereJazz from Jax Breweryw/ Keith Hill
Nov 17, 202517:35GREETINGS TO IDRISfrom PHAROAH SANDERSS QUARTET LIVE AT FRABRIK 1980Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Maryse Dejean
Nov 17, 202517:08THEMBIfrom THEMBIJazz from Jax Breweryw/ Maryse Dejean
Nov 2, 202520:09You've Got To Have Freedomfrom AfricaSpirits of Congo Squarew/ Baba Geno

View all 16 plays