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Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold
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Barnes and Noble
Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold
Current price: $32.99
Barnes and Noble
Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold
Current price: $32.99
Loading Inventory...
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If you already own the original
label LP by
bearing this title, you will still desire a copy of this item from
for several reasons. It does in fact contain the initially issued live recordings
did featuring
and
, but also includes 45 minutes of previously unreleased music, and is accurately annotated with the full and correct personnel listing, plus updated liner notes by
. In addition, it states this recording of the 12-piece
was documented, not at the series of
performances, but two months later on New Year's Eve at
in New York City during what was called the
festival, presented by the
that also produced the legendary October event.
, who had been hired as a door greeter for
performances and was a cook at the restaurant downstairs from
, tried repeatedly to join the band, and was finally granted admission when
left the group briefly to go on the road with
.
adds a certain exotic element to the ensemble, playing flute, and on occasion log drums. At this time the group was merging into the direction of its operatic space themes, though the leader still played acoustic piano, and sometimes celeste. Aside from the historical significance of this disc, the music is terrific and altogether riveting. Famous material shows up like
(it appears that
was also a
title), ranging from cascading piano to dense, counterpointed free bop and chaotic discourse to ritual African drumming. The immortal hard bop/rhythm & blues epic workout
is here in full regalia, as well as a prosaic
(aka
), and the horn section yearns in unity as the renowned chant of
is emphasized during the straight blues
The astonishing symmetry and deep understanding between
, alto saxophonist
, and baritone saxophonist
leap out of the speakers during the 20-minute magnum opus blowing session
Coalescing with the strident bowed bass of
's sporadic piano chords, the band shatters all semblance of static rhythm, especially when drummers
are given their head in a heated, lengthy, dueling duet. Another spontaneous composition,
could also be titled "The New Tomorrow" with its futuristic dirge and
-like angular themes merging into as many as three flutes (
,
, and
?) with an unidentified shenai or musette,
's crashing two-fisted piano, and vocals from
, all in no time. Short pieces like the atmospheric bass/flute exploration
's wandering piano with elephantine horns wailing during
and the pure imagery conjured in high drama on the song of awakening
and the spiritual piece
with chiming piano and celeste, make you aware of the total extrasensory experience this band offers like nobody else. It's also well recorded and transferred to the digital format faithfully. It's possible that only a few (save the critics in the house) knew a piece of history was in the making during this incredible performance that all
fans can easily savor and treasure for lifetimes beyond this mortal coil. ~ Michael G. Nastos