With a Heartbeat

Pharoah Sanders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 22, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Evolver
• ASIN: B00008V5UE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

OK, this sounds like a pretty hokey concept: Pharoah Sanders and some of Bill Laswell's Material crew perform along with recordings of a heartbeat, supplied by Dr. Jean-Louis Zink. Fortunately, it comes off far better in execution than one might expect. First off, the heartbeat itself is sonically treated to be more of a bass pulse, which Laswell then elaborates on when his bass is in the picture. As might be expected with Laswell, there are strong elements of dub throughout, from the sound of the basslines to the way the instruments fade in and out. Besides the heartbeat, which is always present to varying degrees, the main sounds are the guitar and electric sitar of Nicky Skopelitis and keyboards either by Jeff Bova or Laswell. Pharoah Sanders' playing is excellent, and the album is enjoyable. Trilok Gurtu is also featured on Tabla and voice. Douglas label. Originally released in 2003. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ravishing waves of insane soundscapes blow out all synapses, May 2, 2003

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: With a Heartbeat (Audio CD)

Is there a more enthralling, mesmerizing, glorious sound in jazz than the sound of Pharoah Sanders' tenor saxophone? Not that I know of. I personally am willing to put up with almost any amount of new agey faux world jazz to hear that sound in all its manifest glory. Actually, I have to confess that if it's done right, I really don't mind--even dig--that world jazz vibe that Bill Laswell (often, but not always) brilliantly brings to life. And believe me, it's firing on all cylinders on this disc. Check out esp. Trilok Girtu (tablas and voice) on "Alankara." I don't know about you, but that staccato Indian vocalese, combined with stellar tabla playing, almost always does it for me.

But it's still Sanders' tone that makes it for me on this outing. He has a richness, an authority, a depth, that no other tenor sax player has ever (or will ever) achieve. I believe I read somewhere that he spends hours every just playing long tones, seeking to perfect his tonal quality. Even at the higher registers there's still a burning, burnished quality that others only grasp at and never achieve.

All the musicians (and this is a very fine band) get their moment in the sun. I especially like the electric sitar of Nicky Skopelitis that opens "Gamaka," the last cut. Graham Haynes, featured as co-leader on this disc, also displays some very fine, if somewhat stealth, cornet playing. But he shines on "Gamaka."

To these ears, this is the finest disc Pharoah Sanders has ever made. You'd be insane to miss it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superbe, June 25, 2003

By 

yajdubuddah "yajarod" (cheboygan,michigan usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: With a Heartbeat (Audio CD)

bill laswell fans. this an interesting approach for mr sanders, in this selection he is featured with trilok gurtu [tablas, voice]graham haynes [cornet, electronics] nickey skopelitis [guitar, electric sitar] jeff bova [keyboard]dr. jean-louis sink [heartbeat] laswell [ bass, flute, ketboard] and mr sanders playing tenor sax, and flutes.
the music is very hypnotic, dub style with ambient keyboard tablas beautifle sax and flutes feel. the second song morning tala is a retranslation of laswell and wobbles evil eye on dead slow divination ambient dub 2, with a beautifle sanders and skopelitis randition. the funny thing is that zakir hussain was the original tabla player for evil eye and isnt credited on ambient dub II, here im not sure if trilok retranslated it or not. alankara is a sparse tabla and vocal mainelly track with a beat dipping in and out faintelly. the first song is slower dub style with sanders, and the last it more up tempo dub style with graham on amazing cornet. all songes have a real heartbeat continuelessely throughout. dont be afraid its just the future. not a real funk feel to it. dont be scared fantastic.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong as ever, ever expanding, April 1, 2004

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: With a Heartbeat (Audio CD)

Let's start with my bias; quite simply, Pharoah Sanders is the man. I've followed his stellar career since back in the day when he was a young side man with John Coltrane. Since Trane's departure Sanders releases have indicated his superb talents can stand alone. Throughout the years his sound has evolved from free-jazz to jazz -funk, to soulful meditative and back a few times. This outing finds Sanders in the outer limits within the peaceful framework of his soulful horn in conjunction with a heartbeat and world beat. If you loved his old material like " The Creator Has a Master Plan" and other tangents away from " traditional " jazz than you will probably like this disc. Whether or not you will love it depends on if you feel the sound of his magestic horn has been compromised with his association with Bill Laswell. There is still the freedom of his sound, free blowing with the rich mature depth that can only be achieved with age and wisdom but he never really cuts loose. This "new " Pharoah Sanders is mixed with the production skills of Bill Laswell to create a sort of new age-dub-jazz ambient musical style that is different from your typical computer-geek turned music freak releases that flood the new age music bins. The Middle Eastern elements are a nice touch with sitars and tablas blending accordingly with the master tenor sax man , Pharoah Sanders, to create a spacey, laid back sound that occasionaly reaches out there further than most music is likely to risk going on a commercial release. Admitedly this is one of those discs that takes several listens to get used to because of the textures that are combined; it just isn't something that you might be used to listening to. Once you have warmed up to the fact that Pharoah Sanders has taken his music in another direction on this disc you can than appreciate the serenity, bliss and occasional chaos that is signature Pharoah Sanders. This is not a jazz disc by most standards but rather a further exploration of the world music, with added electronica, that Sanders has always incorporated into his music. It is an updated, rejuvenated jazz technician utilizing technology and preserving and reserving his authoratative voice like a wise man who speaks rarely but who everyone listens to when the jewlels come forth. It is a strong musical statement that reveals the strength and beauty from within. Another in a long line of super discs by Pharoah Sanders who has always been unafraid to walk alone and lead the way without being tied down or restricted by labels. Highly recommended for people who like jazzy world music that fits the downtempo mode of chill out ala Pharoah Sanders/ Bill Laswell. Take a trip with Pharoah Sanders and listen to your own heartbeat and expand your mind.