Jazz legend Pharoah Sanders dead at 81

Source: The Guardian

Jazz legend Pharoah Sanders dead at 81

Revered spiritual jazz saxophonist was known for his unique playing style and collaborations with John Coltrane

Shaad D'Souza
@shaaddsouza
Sat 24 Sep 2022 14.03 BST
Last modified on Sat 24 Sep 2022 15.18 BST

Pharoah Sanders, the revered American jazz saxophonist, has died aged 81. The news was confirmed by Sanders’ label, Luaka Bop, on Twitter.

“We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away,” the label’s statement read. “He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles earlier this morning. Always and forever the most beautiful human being, may he rest in peace.”

Born Farrell Sanders in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1940, Sanders’ career began in Oakland, California. After moving to New York in the 1960s, he started collaborating with Sun Ra, who gave him the name Pharoah, before becoming a member of John Coltrane’s band; Sanders played with Coltrane until the latter’s death in 1967.

Along with Coltrane, Sanders was a key figure in the spiritual jazz scene. His 1969 album Karma, which incorporated influences from traditional African and south Asian music, is considered one of the major early documents of the form. Throughout the early 1970s, Sanders continued to release records as a bandleader, largely on the Impulse! label. In 1971, he performed on Alice Coltrane’s Journey in Satchidananda, another milestone in modal and avant-garde jazz.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/sep/24/jazz-legend-pharoah-sanders-dead-at-81

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