Iconic Jazz Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders Dead at 81
Photo by Eric Welles-Nyström
Today, it was announced that the legendary American jazz saxophonist Pharoh Sanders died. He was 81 years old.
The news was shared via Twitter by Sanders’ label Luaka Bop’ the statement reads: “We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away. 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.
We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away. 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. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/pddaztyTLi
— Luaka Bop (@LuakaBop) September 24, 2022
Sanders was born in Little Rock, Ark., on Oct. 13, 1940, and began his fascination with music through clarinet and drums in church before picking up the alto saxophone during high school. His music career began in Oakland, Calif., in ’59 – there he performed in both white and Black clubs and met John Coltrane. In his 20s, Sanders moved across the country to New York and began collaborating with American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet Sun Ra who gave him the name Pharoah. During those early years, he became a member of Coltrane’s band and performed with him until the latter’s death in ’67.
Along with Sun Ra and Coltrane, Sanders was a major figure in the spiritual jazz scene. His album Karma, which was released in ’69, combined traditional African music with south Asian influences marking one of the early examples of global music and jazz fusion. He continued to release music throughout the ’70s and ’80s on the labels Impulse!, India Navigation and Theresa. During those years, he worked with Alice Coltrane on Journey in Satchidananda and continued to push the limits of avant-garde jazz.
Sanders continued to perform live and collaborate throughout the ’90s and 2000s, though his output did slow down. However, during the 2010s, he listed to a song by electronic producer Floating Points, also known as Sam Shepard. After reaching out, the two recorded 2021’s Promises with the London Symphony Orchestra, which received critical acclaim, and marked his first release in over 10 years, though he did reissue a number of records in recent years, including Tauhid, Jewels of Thought, Deaf Dumb Blind (Summun Bukmun Umyun), and Live in Paris (1975).
Since the news of his passing friends, collaborator and admirers have posted tributes in his honor.
Listen to “Movement 1” by Sanders and Floating Points below.
