Rejoice [Import]

Pharoah Sanders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: JVC Japan
• ASIN: B0000BHL30
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,251,018 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rejoice

2. High Life

3. Nigerian Juju Hilife

4. Origin

5. When Lights Are Low

6. Moment's Notice

7. Central Park West

8. Ntjilo Ntjilo/Bird Song

9. Farah

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who can deny that Pharoah Sanders is the greatest pure sax player ever?, April 4, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: Rejoice (Audio CD)

No one, I'm quite confident to declare.

Let's break it down. We'll start with control. Has there ever been a saxophonist with his absolute mastery of the entire range of tenor sax? That's easy. No.

On to tone. Sanders is well known to have practiced playing long tones for hours on end. The result: a purity of tonal expression that somehow goes beyond absolutely centered tones throughout the entire range of his horn into inexpressible territory, which reaches the heart of our listening capability.

Next, diversity of expression. Sanders has the capability to wrest perhaps the widest possible range of emotional content from his horn in the history of jazz--everything from garden variety exuberence to ecstatic religious utterance to goofy blats to heart-renching pathos--often in the same number.

Finally, what we might call "architecture of solo expression." His soloing is nothing if not brilliantly structured, yet absolutely free, all at once. It takes a master of musical intuition and accomplishment to even begin to approach Sanders' majesterial concept and execution.

For me, this disc is, perhaps, the apex in his career. Following on the heels of the glorious Journey to the One, this disc just tops that one by virtue of "Rejoice," the two Highlife numbers (featuring the mysterioso e-bassist, Jorge Pomar), "Ntjilo, Ntjilo/Bird Song," and "Farah," perhaps the finest numbers he has ever recorded in his long and storied career. Add to that the contributions of Joe Bonner, the way underrecorded pianist; vibest extraordinare Bobby Hutcherson; Billy Higgins, the best drummer of his generation; bassist Art Davis; and drum monster Elvin Jones, and you have one of the finest jazz ensembles ever assembled.

The only misstep is the vocal rendition of Coltrane's "Moment's Notice," which, even though I would prefer not to have to listen to it, still has a certain cache that is not entirely unpleasant and even, in a way, sums up a certain vibe floating in the air at the time. Besides, the vocal part constitutes a miniscule portion of the whole, so just deal with it, what?

I feel fortunate to own the original Theresa recording, but I imagine there's little if any difference between this disc and the reissued Evidence disc, and the joy of original-issue ownership is pure nostalgia. Whatever.

Just do it.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More excellent Sanders, November 2, 2000

By 

Stephen (Virginia Beach, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rejoice (Audio CD)

This follow up to Journey to the One follows many of the same patterns. Varied instrumentation, good and bad vocal tracks. The set start off with a bang. The title cut and the two highlife pieces are alive with soaring energy. Unlike the reviewer below, I find Moments Notice to be a huge bump in the road. The lyrics are cheesey open mike night poetry stuff to me. I can't fault Pharoah for his consistantly positive messages, but this track misses the mark for me. The album finishes with more excellent cuts.

5.0 out of 5 stars Herb Wong's review on "MOMENTS NOTICE", October 2, 2009

By 

Butch Johnson "Butch" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rejoice (Audio CD)

COLTRANE'S classic "Moments Notice" is a complete gas! Sanders like Coltrane, pulls and holds attention with his entrances. Bobby Hutcherson's and Hicks solo's are heated and models of vivid imagination. The three put forth some of the very best solo...'s in the entire album.

The there's the arresting new talent introduced here on compact disc in debute -GEORGE V JOHNSON JR., whose marvelous lyrics and viocal work are truly auspicous! He sngs with James Moody on occassion and is happily remindflul of the insistent giftness of the late EDDIE JEFFERSON. Johnson's three stanzars close with "Relax dig the sounds of Coltrane's Music. Coltrane fills your heart with love and harmony. Trane played with magic. Listen to the melodies and you will see momently. When you here the message of his song!". There's no doubt in my mind that henceforth George V Johnson sholuld and will be sought for his own gift to the music. He sang the song for Sanders at the Village Vanguard, and Sanders "felt that George ought to be heard".Thank you, Pharoah Sanders for Sharing....Herb Wong

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