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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ashes to Ashes,
By
This review is from: Elevation (Audio CD)
Recorded in performance at the legendary Ash Grove in Los Angeles over several different September nights in 1973 this Lp captures Pharoah Sanders at the height of his musical powers. Sanders, who played with John Coltrane quite often on this recording sounds like Trane himself. The sax work ranges from meditative and reflective to disturbingly out there on a different plane. As a reflection of life itself which can go from peaceful and beautiful to chaotic and violent in a moments notice the msuic touches all bases. The vast majority is on the peaceful side but I guess Pharoah Sanders has to exorcise his demons or at least demonstrate mankinds ills on occasion. His music can be as tranquill has a sunset over a calm ocean that suddenly becomes stormy, unleashing thunder and lightning and pelting you with torrents of rain; it is still a beautiful sight to behold or in this case to listen to. Although recorded live there is not much audible reaction from the crowd, although on a couple of tracks you can hear the audience, but the band members definitely have hot mics as you can hear them interacting throughout the recording. On "Ore-Se-Rere" Sanders delivers some vocal harmony with the other band members in an African-chant-like fashion underneath some heavy percussion work without one single note on the saxophone! The result is evidence that a good time was had by all. Three of the five songs are Sanders original compostions that have plenty of room for free form improvisation. "The Gathering " is one such jam that begins with some vocal chants and some wild, blitzkrieg tenor work by Sanders that some people would dismiss as screeching and honking on all registers of the instrument but their is a method to Pharoah Sanders's musical madness. As the title implies it is "Elevation" as the music takes you up, up and away, away from the crazy world to eventually reflect in a peaceful state. His sax work has all the markings of his tutelege with John Coltrane. Sanders experiments with diffferent sounds, much like Trane who also incorporated Eastern and African melodies and instruments into the music for a striking effect that is a precursor to the blending of cultures in music in some of todays world music. Sanders is featured on soprano and tenor saxophone for a multilayered sonic sax blast. "Spiritual Blessing" has a calming effect, like a call to prayer Sanders blows through his soprano in a Middle Eastern meditative slow way that allows you to transcend and experience his harmonic bliss. This is a good Sanders recording but if you are new to Pharoah Sanders this might not be the palce to begin your exploration of his music. Since he was well versed and had finished his Trane apprenticeship his own ship was beginning to sail on the sails of Trane. In other words the influence is quite strong and similar to Coltrane's late period. If you are new I recommend listening to a greatest hits package first to see if you like this form of jazz. Although not for everyone it is free form meditative Tranesque music at it's best. Sadly the Ash Grove became ashes. Originally a folk club in the fifties and a place where International music found it 's way into Los Angeles it burned to the ground for a third and final time shortly after this recording was made. All that is left are the memories from those lucky enough to have been there on occasion and a few wonderful recordings reflecting the time period. Recommended for jazz collectors.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Essential Pharoah,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Elevation (Reis) (Audio CD)
A gem because it is mostly live, recorded at a defunct club in L.A. for unconventional styles. You must accept that at any moment P. Sanders can go from serene to surreal. If you can hold on, he'll bring it full circle. A good introduction or addition to a fan.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
great music, great musicians, lousy record company,
By
This review is from: Elevation (Reis) (Audio CD)
The 5 stars is for the music - recorded live in 1973.
Elevation is one of Pharoas finest recordings containing some of the best music from the period. With influences from Africa, India and - something that is always at the heart of Sanders` music -the blues. And not to forget - there is a lot of joy and happiness here. Unfortunately -what we get is not the complete picture. It is understandable that the original lp only contained parts of the performances. But a cd can contain close to 90 minutes of music so it would have been possible for Impulse to put out a cd with the complete tracks.But then of course - it is cheaper to put out replicas. Mosaic would do a better job with this great music.
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