Message From Home

Pharoah Sanders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 19, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000046J9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,151 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars forceful .without being aggressive, February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Message From Home (Audio CD)

If there were any need at all for confirmation that Pharoah Sanders is still a very spiritual and forceful player,this cd delivers it.Here,more than ever,the African element dominates through the pieces themselves and the presence of individual African musicians, African instruments and drummers.Though at times one feels the influence of modern pop,the spiritual element clearly dominates. Sanders must do a solo album to crown his fantastic musical production over the years.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spread the Good Word, August 4, 2010

By 

Bicycle Day - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Message From Home (Audio CD)

Out of the number of collaborations between Pharoah Sanders and Bill Laswell, this 1996 release is the most satisfying. The roots of the rhythms, instruments and vocals are strongly based on African traditions, with Sanders as the wise storyteller who refuses to allow history to be rewritten through the pens and keyboards of the manipulators in the political game, the conquerors in the resource wars and the slave traders who left trails soaked in tears.

Though the bolstered sound is through a variety of musicians and vocalists, the nucleus surrounding Sanders (tenor and soprano sax, flutes, bells, bowls, vocals) is Bernie Worrell (keyboards, vocals), Michael White (violin), William Henderson (acoustic/electric piano, vocals), Foday Musa Suso (vocals, kora, doussn'gouni) and Dominic Kanza (guitar). The programming is by Jeff Bova, who also performs on keyboards.

The central track is Ocean Song (8:49), which emits such sadness due to the soft waves and cool winds being used to destroy societies for unbridled greed; Sanders is calling back to the spirits and allowing them the space to journey through the false chronicles to calmly explain the reality. The song fades into the optimistic Kumba (7:50) and joyous closer Country Mile (6:03). A Sun Ra-flavored opener - Our Roots (Began in Africa) - has a powerful hip-hop groove over the solid 10:21, which propels the opening half of the musical sojourn - Nozipho (9:43) and Tomoki (6:26) - as Laswell is at his studio best; his "Wall of the World Sound" does not overpower the mix.

The message from Sanders is clear...when the eyes are open and ears are prepared to handle the truth.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars African Jazz..., September 12, 2004

By 

Stephen Cabral (New England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Message From Home (Audio CD)

The tenor saxophonist teams up with producer Bill Laswell to create an album I would best describe as African Jazz. It hits some fine grooves and there is always something interesting going on under the surface.