Live at the East

Artist: Pharoah Sanders
Label: Universal Japan
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 4988005340443
ASIN: B0000AFOFX

Release Date: 2004-07-20

Related Categories:

Avant Garde & Free Jazz

| Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Avant Garde & Free Jazz

| Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

Jazz

| Imports | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Healing Song
Lumkili, Pts. 1 & 2
Memories of Coltrane

Customer Reviews:

Yeah!.......2007-01-01

When I was a disc jockey in Philadephia in the late seventies, a spin of Pharoah Sanders would inevitably elicit phone calls which included an involuntary "Yeah!" somewhere in the midst of the call. Very few artists always made the phones ring but Pharoah Sanders was one of them.

"Live At The East" features some of Sander's most incantatory yet least frenetic playing, and on "Healing Song," co-composer Joe Bonner demonstrates why he was Sander's favored pianist during this period
(check out his "Impressions of Copenhagen" for a view of the greater range of his talents.) "Memories Of J.W. Coltrane" is a gentle paean for Sander's mentor and colleague.

The most fiery track, finally in one segment and beautifully rendered in this Japanese pressed CD, is "Lumkili," a distinctive contribution to Sanders's Afro-jazz collection. Featured are the duo of Stanley Clarke (left channel) and Cecil McBee (right channel,) both on acoustic bass (Clarke's playing is especially impressive in this context,) with Joe Bonner playing harmonium and the others chanting and playing "little percussion" like the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

The contributions of Pharoah Sanders are memorable; the playing of all assembled and particularly Stanley Clarke and Cecil McBee is often astounding; the Impulse! CD of "Live At The East" is priceless.

A great lost gem........2005-10-13

A nearly lost gem that was briefly available in Japan, "Live at the East" is one of the most consistently and astonishingly brilliant albums Pharoah Sanders has ever put out. This is somewhat surprising as Sanders was without both pianist Lonnie Liston Smith and vocalist Leon Thomas, both of whom contributed heavily to his previous albums and their success. In their place, Sanders had a pianist and a percussionist who would be part of his music for the next several years-- Joe Bonner and Lawrence Killian. In addition, a pair of musicians who would go on to enormous careers in other forms of music-- bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Norman Connors, appear here. The result is nothing short of astounding.

The three pieces have the same vibe that most of Sanders' early work does-- that spiritually informed free jazz sound. But with Clarke and bassist Cecil McBee, the pieces virtually all end up as features for the bass-- it's stunning to hear just how advanced Clarke, known for his electric bass skills, is on the upright. Opener (and lengthiest track) "Healing Song" is probably the most like Sanders' early work, with the leader stating the theme passionately before moving into an extended improv that included a fantastic bass duet. "Lumkili" revolves around drones, ringing percussion, and moaned vocals, and really serves as a framing for an extended bass dialog. "Memories of J.W. Coltrane" seems to point towards the far future-- a fairly conventional theme statement over a framing piano line again with just unnervingly brilliant basswork and really gives Sanders a chance to show how stunning his reed playing is.

This Japanese reissue is packaged in a mini-LP sleeve and just sounds fantrastic-- the remastering done renders the recording crisp and well balanced, with detail of the neverending jawdropping bass work being clear. The liner notes are, unfortunately, only in Japanese.

Long story short, for fans of Sanders, this one is well worth both the effort to find and the investment. If you're curious about Sanders, start with "Karma", that's his best known, but this one is essential for fans.

an underrated classic finally finds it's way to cd.......2003-12-22

It has been a long wait, but finally this outstanding music is on cd. Healing Song is the definitive song from Pharoah's association with Impulse. Forget about The Creator Has A Master Plan, this song is the essence of what Pharoah was about. The title is apt, as the twenty plus minute track is a whirling dirvish of percussion, acoustic bass, chanting and Pharoah dealing his circular breathing deluxe over, under and with a beautiful and "healing" melody. This track has stayed constantly in my head for the past 26 years, ever since I first discovered the original lp in a cutout bin during my college days. The rest of the music is good, but the title track is indeed like a religious experience. If you have enjoyed any of Pharoah's offerings, you really need to check out this one and be HEALED!!!

At last...after being unavailable for decades!!!!!.......2003-11-13

Twenty three or 24 years ago I heard "Healing Song" played on a college radio station in Moscow, ID. of all places. I had been taping the broadcast because the DJ played a wonderfully eclectic blend of obscure music from the fringes of the Jazz genre. "Healing Song", the first cut on this ramastered CD, is for me, the finest recording of Pharoah Sanders' early post-Coltrane period. It is a gem...and aptly named. Sanders's tenor opens with a strong individual proclamation. That voice plunges head-on into a cacophany of percussion, bass (Cecil McBee and Stanley Clarke!) flute, trumpet and voices that range from frenetic, free improvisation, to reaching an exultant resolution of the highest order...and we, the listeners, are carried along on this healing journey. The contribution of pianist Joseph Bonner, who worked with Sanders from time to time into the 1980's, deserves special mention here. He is listed as co-composer, and his ringing keyboards are the perfect match for the ensemble sound achieved here. This music is not for everyone, but Sanders fans will find resolution and fullfullment with this important live recording (1971-72?). I only wish the liner notes were in English (as well as the Japanese)....But that's alright...the music speak for itself, and I've been waiting over two decades to get my hands on this recording!!!!!

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Lord Have Mercy ~ Lolo

Irish Son ~ Brian McFadden

Brother Juke Box ~ Don Everly

Symphony of the New Man

I Knew I Loved You ~ Savage Garden

Philly Golden Classics ~ The Intruders

Beck, Bogert and Appice Live ~ Jeff Beck

5150 Home 4 Tha Sick ~ Eazy E

Bigger and Deffer ~ LL Cool J

Crunk Juice ~ Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz