Following the success of 2021’s Promises with Floating Points (aka Sam Shepard) and the London Symphony Orchestra, there’s been a resurgence of interest in the late Pharaoh Sanders, who unexpectedly passed just shy of a year ago. Until now, the iconic saxophonist’s years following the expiration of his contract with Impulse! in 1973 are not that well documented. Yet, this recording indicates that the ever-searching Sanders was about 40 years ahead of his time, blending acoustic and electric sounds in much the same way that we hear contemporary artists of today.
The original Pharaoh was issued on the independent India Navigation label in a poorly equipped studio by a fledging producer/engineer who wasn’t up to the task, something that both he and Sanders agreed on. The sound, which incorporated rock elements, was a radical departure from Sanders ‘earlier work. Although the album never got a big push it somehow developed a cult following. Now, with Shepard’s engineering skills, and his having earned Sanders’ confidence (and blessing in 2022) we have the definitive, remastered version of Pharoah, along with two previously unreleased live performances of the focal track “Harvest Time.” An accompanying 24-page booklet includes rarely-seen photographs, archival materials, interviews with many of the participants, and a conversation with Pharoah himself. Suggest that you delve into the booklet for a rather fascinating backstory.
Even now it would be difficult to find such a configuration of instruments in a recording. This group of musicians never appeared in the same room again. In 2022 Sanders still didn’t know the whereabouts of some of them. Electric guitarist Tiszji Munoz, considered one of Sanders’ more compatible soloists, eventually became a spiritual guru. Organist Clifton “Jiggs” Chase went on to work with Grandmaster Flash, and Bedria Sanders, Pharoah’s wife at the time and a classically trained pianist, played the harmonium, which she had never seen before. That group, along with bassist Steve Neil, recorded the salient track “Harvest Time” in a second session while “Love Will Find a Way” and “Memories of Edith Johnson” included drummer Greg Bandy and percussionist Lawrence Killian. The two live performances of “Harvest Time” in Europe in 1977 included in the box set feature bassist Hayes Burnett, drummer Clifford Jarvis, and pianist Khalid Moss accompanying Sanders.
The original “Harvest” presents a much calmer, meditative side of Sanders markedly different from his classic late ‘60s/early ‘70s Impulse! albums. The twenty-minute piece is centered on just two chords. We hear oscillating bass vamps as the saxophonist alternates short bursts with flowing low register lines. Midway through, following Sanders’ percussion break, a denser, ethereal sound develops with the confluence of organ, electric guitar, and harmonium creating an underlying drone. Sanders then reaches higher above the fray, invoking his customary spiritual side, augmented by what sounds like echo effects and undulating waves of sound from the band. The two prevailing elements of repetition and hypnotic grooves also color the African rhythm-infused “Love Will Find A Way,” a 14-minute rumination on deep affection that finds a not-so-perfect but authentic vocal from Sanders coupled with more ferocity on his horn and fiery, inventive rock-like guitar from his inspired sparring partner, Munoz, and capped by a conga outro. “Memories for Edith Johnson,” named for Pharoah’s grandmother, is a much shorter, solemnly rendered gospel-inflected piece awash with hypnotic organ and rather odd chanting vocals.
The European versions, 18 and 10 minutes respectively, of “Harvest” feature three relatively unknown players, with drummer Jarvis who had a Sun Ra background, the only Sanders’ regular. The audiences, initially expect Sanders’ volcanic Impulse! material, are nonetheless appreciative. Here the solos are mostly softer and smoother in accordance with the original tune but have worthy, intense improvisational moments, colored by Fender Rhodes and a cymbal focus on the kit with that oscillating bass vamp still very much in the center.
Keep your eye out later this year and into 2024 for a series of unique performances of The Harvest Time Project: A Tribute to Pharoah Sanders, featuring the original guitarist and a selection of different musical ensembles.
Pharoah devotees will clearly notice several music elements and motifs here that would later shape Sanders’ sound in the ‘80s and ‘90s. For the new listeners, this may well sound as ‘new’ as anything you’re hearing today.
