I saw Pharoah Sanders last night and it blew my freakin' mind

[Gentle Giant]

I caught Pharoah Sanders last night at Sculler's in Boston and it was unbelievable. His 75-minute first show featured only about 5 or 6 tunes, but it was full-tilt genius and brilliance from start to stop. And we're talking only about five seconds between numbers, too. Considering how hard these guys were playing, their endurance was amazing. The set was so incredible, ending with a bit of A Love Supreme, that my buddy and I went out and bought tix for the late show ($24 apiece). That set opened with a duet featuring Pharoah and a local guy playing an mbira (kalimba) inside a resonator calabash. After that, the band continued its balls-to-the-wall approach. On piano was Harold Maybern (sp?) and he was simply astonishing. I've never seen or heard anyone work the 88s like he did. The piano was shaking all over the place. There was one tune each set where Pharoah sat out and Maybern led the trio, and while Sanders was totally on and awe-inspiring, he was not missed at all during the trio numbers. The drummer, a local guy I'd never heard of and don't remember his name, was also astonishing. Here again, I've never seen such high-energy solos. And the cool thing was, he was far from perfect. But I totally respect the fact that he was going all out and doing some stuff that he could barely do. You could see him at times shaking his head after trying some challenging high-speed combination, as if to say, "Well, I fucked that one up," but he kept on pushing. The bassist was pretty hot, too, but either he wasn't miked well or else he didn't articulate too clearly, because whether he was soloing or just in the mix, his sound was kind of muddy.

Pharoah was an intense delight, dancing, shouting, playing air guitar on his sax during a piano solo, blowing his heart out, and getting the audience to shout, stomp, and clap in time. After the second set (which included a reading of Giant Steps), the crowd continued clapping and shouting for many minutes after the lights went up, hoping in vain to draw the exhausted musicians back to stage. There was a lot of love in that room for this music and those musicians, and when asked, Maybern said after the show that he hadn't been in Boston for 10 years before appearing in that room with Eric Alexander a couple of months earlier, but that judging from the audience reaction he hoped to be back soon. Pharoah signed my CD copy of Karma, and I left the club completely spent, but thoroughly fulfilled.

[Uli]

That was probably Harold Mabern. Nice to hear he plays with Pharoah. I bet it smoked!

[RainyDay]

I catch Pharoah every year when he comes here and I am always blown away. I think I did a review either in the Live Performances or on SF Jazz so I won't repeat myself but the man is the bomb. Also, doesn't he have a new record out? If so, it's about time.

[Pete C]

I never knew Mabern played with Pharoah, but his percussive style is certainly a good match.

Rainy, I'll bet you'd love to be in New York this coming week for this lineup at the Blue Note:


Pharoah Sanders & Kenny Garrett
FEATURING:
Pharoah Sanders - saxophone
Kenny Garrett - saxophone
Carlos McKinney - piano
Bob Hurst - bass
Jeff Tain Watts - drums

[RainyDay]

I want a FULL report on this show. Puuullleeezzz?!

[Valerie]

Gentle Giant: The second set at Scullers on Friday night went for over two hours. Didn't end until the wee hours!!

When Mabern played with Alexander there recently, that piano was jumping then too! Mabern is and always has been a complete monster (and the sweetest most sincere cat you'd ever want to meet)!

Very glad that you had such an extraordinary evening!

[gonzo]

on matt garrison's website it says that matt will be joining him for a european tour from oct. 3-29.nothing else on who else will be playing in the band.

[Salvador Dali Lama]

I saw pharoah last may. One of the high points of my life.

All but 2 songs were by Trane, and everything was extremely intense and beautiful. He opened the set with a 10-15 minute rendition of Welcome. I'm still not sure if I cried or not, I went numb after the first 2 notes. I'm pretty sure I did though.

[Ron Thorne]

Originally posted by Pete C
I never knew Mabern played with Pharoah, but his percussive style is certainly a good match.

Rainy, I'll bet you'd love to be in New York this coming week for this lineup at the Blue Note:


Pharoah Sanders & Kenny Garrett
FEATURING:
Pharoah Sanders - saxophone
Kenny Garrett - saxophone
Carlos McKinney - piano
Bob Hurst - bass
Jeff Tain Watts - drums

I can assure you that Rainy's not the only one who would love to be in NYC for that lineup, Pete.

Patti and I had the wonderful opportunity to hear and meet Pharoah Sanders in the early 70's when he was a substitute bill for (I'm not making this up) Country Joe & The Fish and The Steve Miller Band in Anchorage. It was fu**ing incredible. Keith Jarrett had just left the band, but his new pianist, (Tom Coster?) did an admirable job, and Jim Zitro was a very trippy drummer, perfect for Pharoah at the time. We would later become friends when Zitro hooked up with saxophonist Jim Pepper. We took our two very young children to the concert, since we couldn't afford or find babysitters at the last moment, and they loved it. Pharoah looked down on our son, Darren, who had just fallen asleep at the end of the lengthy concert and gently patted his head in appreciation. I told Pharoah that he had a new fan, which he loved hearing.

I'm very envious of you, GG.

[DTMX]

I saw Pharoah Sanders in Atlanta a few months back. He opened with a Coltrane number ("Welcome", I think), followed it with "My Favorite Things" on tenor, "Naima", an uptempo standard, "Blues for Santa Cruz", and a vocal number about saving our children. William Henderson was on piano, Ira Coleman on bass, and Adam Cruz on drums. Adam Cruz was amazing - easily the crowd's favorite. Mostly a straightahead jazz set, a lot of fun, very spiritual. No encore because Pharoah was doing a meet and greet in the lobby after the show. I took a friend who's a big jazz fan - smooth jazz that is. I thought Pharoah Sanders would school him up in a hurry - or scare him off music for good. He was enlightened and converted on the spot. Next stop - Jason Moran with Sam Rivers.

[Clay Fink]

In 93 Pharoah did a concert in DC with the John Gilmore- led Sun Ra orchestra and Sonny Sharock. He sat in with both bands and was incredable (he did "Upper Egypt" with Sharock). I'd love to see him with his own group.

I was just listning to "Symphony for Improvisors" by Don Cherry with Pharoah and Gato both playing tenor, and Pharoah playing piccolo. He's winderful on that recording and completely over-the-top on the "Where is Brooklyn" session.

[RainyDay]

David: I did indeed catch him at Yoshi's. He is just a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

[stonemonkts]

I caught Pharoah Sanders at Iridium a few years ago. I was excited about seeing him but to be honest it was a ho hum set at best. I believe this was simply an off night for him and his band.

Anyone else happen to see him there at the time? If I recall, Joe Farnsworth was on drums (which I thought was a bit odd), someone was on tableau, and there was a "special guest" on bongos (or some other bongo-like things, pardon my non-musician descriptives) whom I believe was from Pakistan.

It wasn't a bad set, just nothing close to amazing. I'm glad to hear he has dazzled others of late, I've always liked him.

[Tom Storer]

I've seen him on great nights and not-so-great nights. Last time was last year, a not-so-great night. He had Jean-Paul Bourelly on guitar, Matt Garrison on bass guitar and I don't remember the drummer. The rhythm section just wasn't doing it: Bourelly was uninspired, IMHO, and Garrison's strong-arm bass playing would have been better suited to a fusion band than to Pharoah. Pharoah was playing well but the others lacked finesse.

But next month he'll be coming through town with William Henderson (never seen him before), Alex Blake on bass, and... Hamid Drake.

[Gentle Giant]

To my knowledge, the Boston Globe hasn't reviewed either night of Pharoah's stand, but from the Herald I learned (five words I don't typically connect) that Pharoah was playing with Mabern's current working trio of Nat Reeves on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. The four were in perfect sync all night long.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by Gentle Giant
To my knowledge, the Boston Globe hasn't reviewed either night of Pharoah's stand, but from the Herald I learned (five words I don't typically connect) that Pharoah was playing with Mabern's current working trio of Nat Reeves on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. The four were in perfect sync all night long.

%$%#$.... Why the hell didn't Scullers advertise that! Dumb smucks. I've seen Pharoah the last few times he came to the Boston area and the shows were so similar I decided to skip this one. However, if I had know he was with Mabern/Reeves/Farnsworth, I would have been there in a second! A millisecond!

This is just SO STUPID! They say "Jazz is dying" and "No one goes to Jazz shows any more" and then this crap happens. I have to wonder if marketing bozos like the ones advertising this show are why attendance is down?

Can you tell I'm just a bit upset?

Later,
Kevin

[Gentle Giant]

Not to defend Sculler's, Kevin, but this show was announced at least 2-3 months ago, and it's conceivable they didn't know who he'd be playing with. From what others have said, he's been with other folks recently, and he's playing the John Coltrane Memorial Concert in a couple of weeks, part of the Equinox Music Festival (.org for more info), without these guys. Of course, when we aked the chick taking tickets at the door who was in the band, she didn't know either, so that's kind of lame. Not only that, the young guy who took our drink orders saw my copy of Karma and said, "Wow, that looks so psychedlic, like Jim Hendrix or something." Putz.

FWIW, Bruce Springsteen was playing Fenway Park that night and I'm sure working the Sanders show wasn't how the staff would have liked to have spent the evening.


Also, the reason I didn't post this thread under Live Music Reviews in the first place is because there's so little traffic here. I hope people find it.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by Gentle Giant
Not to defend Sculler's, Kevin, but this show was announced at least 2-3 months ago, and it's conceivable they didn't know who he'd be playing with.

Oh, I saw this show on the schedule... almost bought a ticket too. But I didn't want to see the same show I saw the last two times Pharoah came through. This is not the same show! If Scullers had just listed the band, I would've been there.

BTW, next Tuesday, Bud Shank's playing at Scullers. I've never seen Bud. Hope he's still got it. A week later, Steve Wilson is at the R'bar. Then Toshiko and the BB fanwell show at Carnegie? Fun, fun, fun.

Later,
Kevin

[Dr Dave]

Pharoah with Kenny Garrett? Yow!


I'm not gonna bore people all over again about my encounter with Pharoah at Slug's in NYC back in 1973. Suffice to say it was a memorable evening in more ways than one.

I took my wife and her godson to see him a few years ago at the Regattabar, and was moved to see him still full of fire.

Regarding Mabern: Ever see a piano scream "YIKES!!"?? He really stomps a Steinway into the ground, does old Harold. And, as pointed out above, a great gentleman.

[Tom Storer]

Originally posted by Dr Dave
I'm not gonna bore people all over again about my encounter with Pharoah at Slug's in NYC back in 1973. Suffice to say it was a memorable evening in more ways than one.

Oh, go ahead, for goodness' sake. I didn't hear it the first time around.

Regarding Mabern: Ever see a piano scream "YIKES!!"?? He really stomps a Steinway into the ground, does old Harold.

He really makes the piano speak. It says, "Get your hands off me!"

I dig Harold Mabern, I just wanted to tell that dumb old joke.

[Gentle Giant]

Someone please hip me to some Mabern recordings because I ain't got none and after seeing him I want lots.

[Valerie]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
BTW, next Tuesday, Bud Shank's playing at Scullers. I've never seen Bud. Hope he's still got it.
Later,
Kevin

Kevin, I thought Bud was at Scullers this Saturday!!

[Tanager]

I have never heard Pharaoh live, much to my chagrin, but the thread title is one of the best I've ever seen.

[Root Doctor]

I can recommend Mabern's Straight Street, on DIW.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by Valerie
Kevin, I thought Bud was at Scullers this Saturday!!

http://www.scullersjazz.com/coming.htm

Unless this is wrong, Bud's playing next Tuesday.

Kevin

[makpjazz57]

Kevin,

My error - I told Valerie Shank/Mays/Drummond/LaBarbera would be at Sculler's on Saturday. Actually, I believe Arturo Sandoval is at Sculler's on Saturday (and Friday, too).

For those near the Providence area, there's a special treat at Bovi's in East Providence this Monday evening - the John Allmark big band with special guest, drummer Harold Jones. Jones was with Basie from '68 - '72 and has played with everyone from Sarah Vaughan to Benny Carter and so many more. A rare treat, as Harold lives on the west coast and spends a lot of time doing workshops/clinics and gigging overseas.

Kevin...see you Tuesday night (unless work dictates otherwise).

Marla

[mke]

Originally posted by RainyDay
I want a FULL report on this show. Puuullleeezzz?!

JAZZ REVIEW | PHAROAH SANDERS AND KENNY GARRETT
The Refractions of Coltrane
By BEN RATLIFF


John Coltrane's style has been an amplifier for four decades of saxophonists: they plug themselves into it, and though different things come out, they're all mediated by the same source. Pharoah Sanders, 14 years younger than Coltrane, recorded and performed with him at the end of his life, in the mid-1960's. Kenny Garrett came along in the 1980's. They're bigger than themselves, in a sense, each representing something crucial about the jazz improvising of his time.

Through Sunday at the Blue Note they're sharing the stage, taking turns soloing over a paint-peeling rhythm section. The setup is an old one, a casual assignment recalling older pairings of saxophonists like Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt. The common bond is Coltrane. Each of the four pieces they played in Tuesday night's early set reflected a specific moment and style in Coltrane's career after 1959, and the two saxophonists played through them in very different ways.

Mr. Garrett, in his 40's now, still plays with an intensity you tend to associate with people in their 20's. And in his rabbitlike speed and surging power, there's remarkable rhythmic articulation and knowledge of harmony, which helps him know where he wants to go. He never seems to perform in half-measures; he's a music student's idol, reliably professional.

But Pharoah Sanders! His performances can come swathed in so much mysticism that you can't see the dimensions of his talent. His famous gargling saxophone scream, meant to open himself up, can muddy the picture instead: it's a smokescreen for when he's having an off night. But on Tuesday night you could hear the whole of him. If he isn't nearly the fast, fluid harmonic improviser that Mr. Garrett is, he plays harmony ably, and he's a truly great free player. At his best, his sound, lush and cataclysmic, high overtones seeping into low runs, bunches of notes smeared together into one, acts not just as the shock it provoked in the 60's but as an effusive, thoroughly worked-out language of pure sound.

There were moments when this combination of players felt special, inspired — especially in Mr. Garrett's "2 Down & 1 Across," when Mr. Sanders, 62, improvised freely against bass and drums alone. Jeff Watts played cartloads of drums, sloshing four-four jazz rhythm into a shuffle and back again, using the continuing overlaid triplet rhythms; his assault accomplished its goal, kicking Mr. Sanders into more and more detail.

"Body and Soul," in Coltrane-style, slow-hymn tempo, also worked out for both of them, showing the vast difference between the players in ballads. The set ended with "Giant Steps," Coltrane's exercise in swiftly moving harmony, perfect for Mr. Garrett but completely the wrong tune for Mr. Sanders. It didn't really matter; by that time the gig had already validated itself.

[jazzy mary]

On Tuesday I was at Iridium to see Freddie and The New jazz Composers' Octet. Javon Jackson was there after having come from the BN. I was hangin' w/ the cats and with Valerie Bishop, who was in NYC, and Javon was telling us about the gig. It was pretty funny because he was imitating Pharoah (in a very nice, respectful way--showing how great he was) and how he was doing his stuff and that Kenny did his best to try to keep up with him but just couldn't. And basically that no one can beat Pharoah doing that kind of stuff.

I've seen Paharoah countless times and always enjoy his concerts, even if he's not at his best--he's great. He was one of the first musicians I discovered when I first got into jazz and I have so many of his LPs even (and cds). His longtime piano player, William Henderson, is very, very good and it would be very worthwhile to see that gig.

[BlueMiles]

I never have heard all that much Pharoah. I will say that he's excellent on Randy Weston's "Khepera" and on a handful of tracks from Steve Turre's great "Rhythm Within." I really don't know his "classic" period stuff (late 60's-70's). I've had a few listens to "Crescent with Love," which at first sounded quite good. But it then it struck me that he was too closely copying Trane's ballad style. He clearly cannot escape the Trane influence, which might be a serious drawback.

[Uli]

Originally posted by BlueMiles
I've had a few listens to "Crescent with Love," which at first sounded quite good. But it then it struck me that he was too closely copying Trane's ballad style. He clearly cannot escape the Trane influence, which might be a serious drawback.

BlueMiles, while I agree that Pharoah stays very close to Trane's ballad style on that album I take it more as a hommage to Trane than Pharoah not being able to escape Trane's influence. Listen to some other of Pharoah's records he really is his own man.