See also: Sanders

Of its true name Farrel Sanders, Pharoah Sanders (born on October 13rd, 1940 with Little Rock, Arkansas, parents professors of music) saxophonist of Jazz originating in the Arkansas, starts to be known on the scene of jazz of Oakland, in California, at the beginning of the Années 1960.

In 1962 it settles in New York, and receives quickly the nickname of Pharoah by the members of Sun Ra, with which it occurs. In 1965, it plays in the group of John Coltrane, at the moment when this last starts to try out a new style of jazz, which one will call later the Free jazz (or avant-garde jazz). It is in this style that Pharoah Sanders will be illustrated thereafter.

Among his famous collaborations, in addition to those already quoted, one can note those where the vocalist Leon Thomas sings. The yodelling of Thomas associated with the improvisations with Sanders and a rate/rhythm free jazz detached with a rigorous structure, being able accéler and to slow down, like with religious and mysterious texts (with an interest for the Islam), mark an attraction and a return towards the African music.

For these reasons Pharoah Sanders is regarded as one of the inventors of the ethno-jazz.

Selective discography

• 1964 - Pharoah First
• 1966 - Tauhid
• 1969 - Izipho Zam
• 1969 - Karma - whose The Creator Has Master Plan with Leon Thomas
• 1969 - Jewels off Thought
• 1970 - Deaf Dumb Blind (Summun Bukmun Umyun)
• 1971 - Live At the East
• 1971 - Black Unity
• 1971 - Thembi
• 1972 - Wisdom through Music
• 1973 - Elevation
• 1976 - Pharoah
• 1980 - Journey to the One
• 1981 - Beyond has Dream
• 1982 - Heart has Melody - of which a live version of Ole of John Coltrane
• 1987 - Africa (Curtis Lundy, Idris Muhammad, John Hicks)
• 1990 - Welcome to Love
• 1996 - Message From Home

With John Coltrane

• 1965 : Rise - Pulse!
• 1965 : Live In Seattle - Pulse!
• 1965 : Om - Pulse!
• 1965 : Kulu MaMa - Pulse!
• 1965 : Meditations - Pulse!
• 1966 : Live At The Village Vanguard Again! - Pulse!
• 1966 : Live In Japan - Pulse!
• 1967 : Expression - Pulse!
• 1967 : The Olatunji Concert - Pulse!

With Gift Cherry

• 1966 - Where Is Brooklyn?

With Kenny Garrett

• 2006 - Beyond the Wall