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Landmark work from Sun Ra – a rare 1964 performance that features some very early work from Pharoah Sanders, a good deal of which is appearing here for the first time ever! The material was recorded at Judson Hall, and only half the tracks came out on a rare Saturn LP – making this CD collection that first time that all 11 titles appear in their entirety. Ra and the group recorded the set on New Year's Eve, 1964 – at a time when John Gilmore had left the Arkestra to work with Art Blakey – leaving Pharoah Sanders to come and take his place on tenor. Also noteworthy is the presence of Black Harold (Harold Murray) on flute – blowing with a dark edge alongside other group members who include Al Evans on trumpet, Teddy Nance on trombone, Marshal Allen on alto sax, Pat Patrick on baritone sax, and both Alan Silva and Ronnie Boykins on bass. The performance starts with a relatively fierce sound, but then moves into some beautifully lyrical moments – and titles include "Gods On A Safari", "The New Tomorrow", "The Second Stop Is Jupiter", "Cosmic Interpretation", "The Other World", "Dawn Over Israel", and "Space Mates".

A fantastic album by Pharoah Sanders – one of his later albums for Impulse, but one of his best! The record has Pharoah grooving in a strongly modal style – working up long passages of rhythm, piano, and percussion that really build on the promise delivered in earlier tunes on records like Jewels Of Thought and Tauhid. The tunes never go too far out, and have a really joyous feel that we totally love – opening Pharoah up with that bright spirit that makes some of his 70s work so great, really pushing him past the darkness of the immediate post-Coltrane years. Includes the tremendous track "Greeting To Saud", plus "Elevation", "Spiritual Blessing", "Ore Se Re", and "The Gathering".

An amazing look at the earliest years of one of our favorite jazz musicians ever – a massive 4CD set that goes way beyond Pharoah Sanders' famous first album for ESP! The box is filled with great music, but is also an historical document too – as it offers up some interview snippets, alongside material that has Sanders working in the Don Cherry Quintet, the Sun Ra Arkestra, the Paul Bley Quartet, and his own group as well! CD 1 features material from January 1, 1963 – recorded with a Don Cherry group that features Sanders on tenor, Joe Scianni on piano, David Izenzon on bass, and JC Moses on drums – plus a May, 1964 date with a Paul Bley group that features Sanders, Izenzon, and Paul Motian on drums! CD 2 features a famous group led by Sanders – with Jane Getz on piano, Stan Foster on trumpet, William Bennett on bass, and Marvin Patillo on drums – on the titles "Bethera" and "Seven By Seven". CDs 3 and 4 feature material from December 30 and 31st, 1964 – a famous performance with Sun Ra and Black Harold – one that seems to be expanded from the previous release, presented with both mono and stereo tracks. Titles include "The Second Stop Is Jupiter", "We Travel The Spaceways", "Dawn Over Israel", "Gods On Safari", "Space Mates", and "The Voice Of Pan". And yes, some of this stuff's been on the market before – but the package also features interviews with Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, and Don Cherry – plus a nice booklet too!

One of the most spiritual albums recorded by Pharoah Sanders for Impulse – an open-ended and free-thinking exploration of ideas, all very much in the late John Coltrane mode! The group's a largeish one – filled with spiritual soul jazz luminaries who include Hannibal Marvin Peterson on trumpet, Harold Vick on tenor, Carlos Garnett on flute, Joe Bonner on piano and harmonium, Cecil McBee and Stanley Clarke on basses, Norman Connors and Billy Hart on drums, and Lawrence Killian on congas and percussion – all working together beautifully, with some of the same spirit as the larger jazz ensembles on the Strata East label! Sanders' magnificent tenor is at the helm of the album – pushing, urging, and directing the players with a strong sense of vision – and although live, the album has the same sort of intimate intensity as the best studio sides by Pharoah for Impulse. Titles include "Healing Song", "Memories of John W. Coltrane" and "Lumkili".

A tremendously joyous album from Pharoah Sanders – his last record for Impulse, and a rare thing of beauty! The album only features 2 long tracks, both of them great, and both of them showing Pharoah as more expressive, more imaginative, and more openly soulful than heard on his earlier records. The set kicks off with the tremendous "Love is Everywhere" – a 20 minute long modal groover that soars to the skies on wings of faith and spirituality, while grooving to the ground on incredible piano lines and searing sax solos! The track's followed up with the elegiac "To John" – an extended memorial to Coltrane that shows how much change the Love Supreme legacy had inspired by the mid 70s!

A beautiful little record by Pharoah Sanders – quite different than most of his other recordings of the 70s, and done in a smoothly jazzy mode that also features plenty of soul! Sanders did the set in collaboration with Norman Connors – and the style is in that same great mix of mellow soul and deeper jazz that Connors used on his own brilliant records from the time. Instrumentation includes some keyboards and guitar mixed in with Sanders' always-soulful work on sax – and a number of cuts have vocals, either by a chorus shading in the tunes, or by Phyllis Hyman in the lead. The whole thing's great – warmly soulful, and almost a tighter extension of the modes that Sanders was exploring on his last album or two for Impulse. Titles include "As You Are", "Everything I Have Is Good", "Got To Give It Up", "Love Will Find a Way", "Love Is Here", and "Pharomba". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "As You Are (single version)" and "Got To Give It Up (single version)".

If you think that Pharaoh Sanders' genius as a leader first blossomed during his post-Coltrane years on Impulse, you owe it to yourself to check out this early album for ESP – a startlingly great session that offers a whole new side of his talents! The album features 2 side-long tracks – each of them great in their own ways, both in ways that are far different from the later Sanders sound on Impulse! Pharoah's tone here isn't nearly as raspy as on his more famous sides – it's more straightforward, almost Coltrane-esque – and as the long tracks unfold, there's almost a Sonny Rollins-like sense of spontaneous invention, especially on "Bethera", which takes up all of side two. And while we love the spiritual sensibilities of Sanders' classic albums, we also really like the pointedness of this one – not just because it shows a young Pharoah already possessed of greatness not infused by Coltrane, but also because the album's a mostly-inside session that's a real standout in the ESP catalog! The group's unusual too – and features Stan Foster on trumpet, Jane Getz on piano, William Bennett on bass, and Marvin Patillo on percussion. Tracks include "Bethera" and "Seven by Seven".

If you think that Pharaoh Sanders' genius as a leader first blossomed during his post-Coltrane years on Impulse, you owe it to yourself to check out this early album for ESP – a startlingly great session that offers a whole new side of his talents! The album features 2 side-long tracks – each of them great in their own ways, both in ways that are far different from the later Sanders sound on Impulse! Pharoah's tone here isn't nearly as raspy as on his more famous sides – it's more straightforward, almost Coltrane-esque – and as the long tracks unfold, there's almost a Sonny Rollins-like sense of spontaneous invention, especially on "Bethera", which takes up all of side two. And while we love the spiritual sensibilities of Sanders' classic albums, we also really like the pointedness of this one – not just because it shows a young Pharoah already possessed of greatness not infused by Coltrane, but also because the album's a mostly-inside session that's a real standout in the ESP catalog! The group's unusual too – and features Stan Foster on trumpet, Jane Getz on piano, William Bennett on bass, and Marvin Patillo on percussion. Tracks include "Bethera" and "Seven by Seven". CD also features bonus interview tracks!

One of the first moments of genius from a young Pharoah Sanders – a set that builds on the energy of John Coltrane's Love Supreme generation – but takes it in a much more expansive direction! The album's got a sense of majesty that's years ahead of its time – righteous, positive, spiritual jazz that flows out with a timeless power, and a quality that almost out-Coltrane's Coltrane! All tracks are long, expressive, and freely flowing – building with a very organic sense of energy – totally free from any gimmicks or cliche. Players include Dave Burrell on piano, Henry Grimes on bass, and Sonny Sharrock on guitar – and Pharoah plays alto, tenor, and piccolo – and even vocalizes a bit. The album begins with the amazing "Upper & Lower Egypt" – which is a perfect illustration of the two sides of Pharoah's genius – free/out & spiritual/modal – and other titles include "Japan", and "Capricorn Rising".

A pretty darn nice record that is one of the best that both Pharoah and Norman cut around this time! The album features Connors in the lead, playing with a warm jazzy groove that returns to his spiritual soul jazz recordings of the early 70s. Sanders is the main soloist on 3 tracks, and Bobby Lyle plays acoustic piano in a very lovely way. Tracks include "Casino Latino", "End Of The Beginning", "Babylon", and "Beyond A Dream". Recorded live at the Montreux festival in 1978.

A later recording from Pharoah, when he was working with Bill Laswell in the mid and late 90s. Laswell's on production, and the lineup features some of his international and funk-based crew like Foday Muso Sosa, Bernie Worrell and Aiyb Deng, plus older collaborators like Michael White, and some of the then young newer scene liek Charnett Moffett. The vibe is definitely of the times, with some heavier elements and hip hop influenced beats, but a few classic spiritual grooves too. 6 numbers in all, including "Our Roots (Began In Afrca)", "Nozipho", "Tomoki", "Ocean Song", "Kumba" and "Country Mile".

A wealth of spiritual blessings from the incredible Pharoah Sanders – a saxophonist who learned key lessons from John Coltrane, then really ran with his inspiration after his too-early death! The tracks here are all pulled from Sanders' sublime recordings for Impulse Records – amazing work that really helped redefine the sound of soulful jazz for the 70s – by adding in a spiritual undercurrent that really pushes the whole Love Supreme agenda forward strongly – not just through Pharoah's wonderfully raspy lines on tenor, but also via work here from Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Leon Thomas on vocals, and Idris Muhammad and Norman Connors on drums. Every track is great – and the collection is perfectly put together to illustrate the most heavenly side of Sanders' music – with titles that include "Colors", "Astral Traveling", "The Gathering", "Memories Of Lee Morgan", "Upper Egypt & Lower Egypt (edit)", "The Creator Has A Masterplan (edit)", "Wisdom Through Music", and "Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah".

One of the first albums ever cut as a leader by reedman Gato Barbieri – and a very sharp-edged session that's quite different than his better-known work in the 70s! Barbieri's tenor here has an incredible tone – as deeply soulful as Pharoah Sanders or late John Coltrane, and blown with a great sense of freedom – really stretching out on the album's long tracks. Gato never lets himself get too unfocused, though – and the album's an illustration of a side of his talents that was perhaps only shown this well on his recordings with Don Cherry. Players include Calo Scott on cello, Sirone on bass, and Bobby Kapp on drums – and the album's got a vibe that easily matches other ESP sets from the time by Charles Tyler or Sonny Simmons. Titles include "In Search Of The Mystery", "Obsession No 2", "Michelle", and "Cinematheque".

The most fully-formed album from Nat Birchall so far – and one that has him definitely going into another dimension in jazz, thanks to a slightly expanded lineup! The shift here is almost that betweeen the 60s spiritual sounds on Impulse Records, and the label's groundbreaking material in the post-Coltrane years of the early 70s – a time when folks like Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown, Alice Coltrane, and others were really helping to redefine a sense of spiritualism in jazz – yet always at the best moments still hanging onto the core sense of individualism that first got the movement started in the 60s! Nat Birchall is at the head of the group – blowing fantastic lines on tenor and soprano sax – searching and righteous, but always with a sense of gentleness too – a really special blend that makes the album sparkle. Other players include Adam Fairhall on piano, Corcy Mwamba on vibes, and Rachael Gladwin on harp – and there's lots of nice percussion touches that are nestled in on the bottom. Birchall wrote all tracks – and titles include "Ancient World", "Dance Of The Mystic", "Radiant Will", "Peace In Ninevah", and "Sacred Dimension".

Early 70s greatness from Don Cherry – a double album's worth of profoundly spiritual soundscapes paired with lots of weird effects – and a very laidback groove overall! Tracks are written by Cherry, Terry Riley, Pharoah Sanders, and Nana Vasconcelos – and include performances by Don on trumpet, voice, and harmonium. Lots of cool percussion elements by the group, with some tabla and other Indian instrumentation. Titles include "Elixir", "Relativity Suite (Parts 1 & 2)", "Terry's Tune", "Hope", "The Creator Has a Master Plan", and "Resa".

A very nice album that features sort of a "best of" sampling of Alice's solo recordings for Impulse in the immediate 5-year period after John Coltrane's death. The tracks are a lovely mix of smaller groups and larger spiritual ensembles – and players include Jimmy Garrison, Pharoah Sanders, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter, and Cecil McBee. There's a lot of nice tracks on here that don't show up that often on vinyl – and titles include "Blue Nile", "I Want To See You", "Sita Ram", "Oh Allah", "Andromeda's Suffering", "Lovely Sky Boat", and "Galaxy In Turiya".

One of our favorite albums ever from John Coltrane – but a record that's sometimes eclipsed by the genius of A Love Supreme! The feel here is very similar to that one – long tracks that introduce a new mode of searching, spiritual jazz for the 60s – one that's performed by a core quintet with Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones – but which also features added players on the side-long title track! "Kulu Se Mama" is a tremendously bold statement in music – one that features a bit of spiritual vocals from Juno Lewis, plus added bass clarinet from Donald Garrett, tenor from Pharoah Sanders, and drums from Frank Butler. The two other tracks – "Vigil" and "Welcome" – are performed by a quartet, but are still equally great!

John Coltrane returns to the Village Vanguard – but his sound here is a lot more far-reaching than a few years before! The album's a great counterpart to the first Vanguard session – as it takes all of the bold, soaring energy of that date, and balances it with the newly introspective sound of the later Coltrane years – plus some of the freedoms learned from the Love Supreme era. The group here showcases the new territory explored by Coltrane – with Trane himself on tenor, soprano, and a bit of bass clarinet (echoing earlier Dolphy), plus Pharoah Sanders on additional tenor, Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rasheid Ali on drums. The album only features 2 long tracks – an incredibly soulful version of "Naima", and a very firey version of "My Favorite Things", but one that begins with a haunting bass solo by Garrison!

Coltrane's last live show ever – in case you couldn't guess from the title – recorded in 1967, but never officially released! The set features a group with Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison, Rashied Ali, Alice Coltrane, Algie DeWitt, and possibly Jumma Santos on percussion. As you'd guess from the added percussion, there's a pronounced spiritual approach to the set, although the solo work by Trane, Alice, and Pharoah is also quite free. The set features a short introduction by Billy Taylor, and 2 long tracks: "Ogunde" and "My Favorite Things".

A pure statement of being and essence – and one of John Coltrane's spiritual masterpieces from the 60s! The 1965 recording was one of Trane's most adventurous so far – as it featured just one album-length track, building up out of relatively free expressions from Coltrane in the studio – initially in the spirit of Love Supreme, but much sharper-edged and unbridled overall – as if the meditative spirit of the previous recording had unlocked a sense of freedom that refused to be tied down to simple structures! The group is great – and features Pharoah Sanders on tenor, Donald Garrett on bass clarinet, McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – plus a bit of flute and percussion from Joe Brazil. The playing is much freer than on other albums of the time, but also has some introspective spiritual moments – clearly inspired by the Love Supreme recording, but taken a shade outside as well!

A pair of mellow soul and jazzy groove masterpieces by Norman Connors – You Are My Starship form '76 and Romantic Journey from '77 in a single set! The former opens with the heavenly title cut – which features Michael Henderson on vocals and Gary Bartz on sax. Bartz plays on a number of other cuts, too, including a remake of "The Creator Has a Master Plan", "Just Imagine", and a remake of "Betcha By Golly Wow", with Phyllis Hyman on vocals. Hyman also sings a duet with Michael Henderson on the track "We Both Need Each Other". Great stuff, and a groundbreaking LP that showed the world that Norman was going to make as big of a splash on the soul scene as he did in the jazz world! Romanic Journey is another mellow jazzy soul treasure The record is a beautiful blend of styles, and features vocals by Eleanore Mills and Phillip Mitchell – plus playing by Gary Bartz and Pharoah Sanders. Connors still has some of his jazz influences firmly in place, as you'll hear on the album's remake of Pharoah Sanders' "Thembi", taken in a mellow stepping tone, as well as a reading of Gato Barbieri's "Last Tango In Paris". Other tracks are more smooth soul oriented, and titles include "Destination Moon", "For You Everything", and "You Are Everything". 14 tracks in all.

A cool large ensemble set from the same Teresa Record scene that gave us great albums by Pharoah Sanders and John Hicks! The group's led by trumpeter David Hardiman – and features a hip rotating lineup throughout.

Rare work by the late Phyllis Hyman – a killer collection of obscure sides from some of the best projects of her career, plus some additional titles that have never been issued before! In a world of endless "best of" collections of Phyllis' work, this set is a real gem – a package that truly understands the beauty of her music, and offers up obscure tracks to please longtime fans, but with a quality level that's equally great as – if not better than – any of her well-known studio LPs! The album's a dream come true to our ears – smooth, jazzy, sophisticated soul – sung by Phyllis in a timeless style, with help from a host of great jazz artists. Unreleased titles include "If You Ever Change Your Mind", "Hottest Love Around", "Don't Tell Me Tell Her (new version)", "Do You Love Him (fast version)", and "In Between The Heartaches" – and other tracks include "Love Surrounds Us Everywhere", "I'll Be Around", and "In Search Of My Heart", all with McCoy Tyner; "Sacred Kind Of Love", with Grover Washington; "Springs Arrival" with Jon Lucien; and "Everything I Have Is Good", with Pharoah Sanders & Norman Connors. The set's completed by tracks that include "Sleep On It", "Magic Mona", "Soon Come Again (extended)", and "Be One" – all from hard to find non-LP sources!

The rare second album from Juju – the avant jazz collective who'd later morph into funk band Oneness Of Juju, but who still sound pretty revolutionary here! There's a bit more focus than before – still energy that's a lot like the best righteous jazz groups coming out of Chicago or St Louis at the same time, but maybe a bit more direct, too – and really showing some of the stronger spiritual tones that would only blossom more strongly in later years! Reedman Plunky Nakabinde is firmly at the helm of the group – on tenor, flute, and soprano sax – but the set also features great work from Lon Moshe on vibes and percussion, Babatunde on congas and drums, Phil Branch on bass, and Al-Hammond Raul on piano and percussion. The sounds are a bit less Afro-styled than on the Oneness records, but still have all the great spiritual currents – and titles include an excellent version of Pharoah Sanders' "Black Unity", plus the original tunes "Contradiction","Nia", "Black Experience", and "The End Of The Butterfly King".

The rare second album from Juju – the avant jazz collective who'd later morph into funk band Oneness Of Juju, but who still sound pretty revolutionary here! There's a bit more focus than before – still energy that's a lot like the best righteous jazz groups coming out of Chicago or St Louis at the same time, but maybe a bit more direct, too – and really showing some of the stronger spiritual tones that would only blossom more strongly in later years! Reedman Plunky Nakabinde is firmly at the helm of the group – on tenor, flute, and soprano sax – but the set also features great work from Lon Moshe on vibes and percussion, Babatunde on congas and drums, Phil Branch on bass, and Al-Hammond Raul on piano and percussion. The sounds are a bit less Afro-styled than on the Oneness records, but still have all the great spiritual currents – and titles include an excellent version of Pharoah Sanders' "Black Unity", plus the original tunes "Contradiction","Nia", "Black Experience", and "The End Of The Butterfly King". Features two bonus tracks – "Live Revolution" and "Live Revolution Continues".

One of the most spiritual albums to come from the young AACM movement in Chicago – a session that's somewhat equal in expression to some of the best post-Coltrane work on Impulse Records! Maurice McIntyre plays here with a sound that's already fully formed – an approach to the tenor that's as searingly human as that of Pharoah Sanders or Albert Ayler – but which is also played with a sharpness at times that recalls a young Marion Brown. The rest of the group is equally well-matched – a tremendous array of talent from the Chicago scene, with Malachi Favors on bass, Thurman Barker and Ajaramu on drums, Leo Smith on trumpet and flugelhorn, John Stubblefield on soprano sax, and Amina Claudine Myers on piano. George Hines vocalizes a bit on a few tracks – singing in a spiritual tone that's somewhat like Leon Thomas, but much freer and more abstract – and the album beautifully balances shorter musical statements with a fuller suite on side two – showing the deeper, more ambitious expressions that were starting to well up in the AACM. Titles include the tremendous "Humility In The Light Of Creator", plus "Hexagon", "Kcab Emoh", "Pluto Calling", "Life Force", and "Suite – Ensemble Fate". CD also features a bonus version of the title track!

Odean Pope's never sounded better – and this smoking trio set may well be one of the best illustrations of his power we've ever heard! There's a righteous focus to the record that grabs us right from the start – a bold, rich sound from his tenor that easily shows that Pope's well deserving of inclusion in a legacy that includes Archie Shepp, David Murray, and maybe even Pharoah Sanders – a voice on tenor that's incredibly clear and confident, yet filled with humanity too. Possibly, the setting of the record is what really lets Odean sparkle – an open trio with Lee Smith on bass and Billy Hart on drums – both players who have the same vibrancy as Pope, and who seem to work together with his spirit to really soar to the skies! A perfect tenor trio record – following in that Sonny Rollins/Village Vanguard legacy – with titles that include "Fresh Breeze", "The Garden Of Happiness", "Almost Like Part One", "12th Night", "You & Me", and "Good Question Two".

Righteous jazz, with plenty of soul – a killer collection of the mid 70s work of Lonnie Liston Smith – all based around his legendary recordings for the Flying Dutchman label! Lonnie got his start on the hippest side of the jazz spectrum – including work with Pharoah Sanders on Impulse – but by the time of these tracks, he'd found a way to beautifully mix the righteous energy of his roots with some sweet mid 70s jazz funk touches – all served up in a sublime blend of electric keyboards and acoustic piano, and often expanded with lyrics that helped Smith cross over into a soul audience too! Few artists ever handled the balance as well as Lonnie – although this work certainly inspired dozens of others to try – and the set's a beautiful testament to his lasting power, with 15 great tracks that include "Visions Of A New World", "Cosmic Funk", "Get Down Everybody", "In Search Of Truth", "Expansions", "Beautiful Woman", "Golden Dreams", "Astral Traveling", "Meditations", "Devika", "Shadows", and "Sunbeams".

A spiritually-resonant set from vocalist Dwight Trible – one of the greatest jazz singers of the past few decades! Trible's got a depth that few others can match – a quality that takes us back to the glory days of Leon Thomas with Pharoah Sanders, or Joe Lee Wilson on the Paris scene of the 70s – but heard only on a handful of albums under his own name, plus work with the Build An Ark collective and Life Force Trio! Cosmic reminds us of everything we loved about Dwight's Living Water album a few years back, and this one may be even stronger – sung with a yearning, soaring, soul-shaking voice that's perfect for both the original material, and a few well-chosen classics. Trible is backed by a stellar group of musicians that includes John Beasley on piano and organ and George Harper on tenor sax – and titles include "Speak To Us Of Love", "I've Known Rivers", "In The Beginning GOD", "Love Is Forever", "Little Afrika", "Algeriangeles", "Hyku For Peace/Come Ye", "It's All About Love" and a glorious take on the Five Stairsteps soul classic "Ooh Child"!

Beautifully spiritual jazz from the post-Coltrane generation – a wealth of righteous grooves from the early 70s – brought together in one mighty collection! If you dig the work of Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, and other giants on Impulse Records, this is a great way to dig even deeper – and hear the way their late 60s legacy inspired other musicians to new heights in their own music – sounds that hit a new level of freedom in jazz, yet which are still filled with enough swing and soul to avoid some of the more avant modes of the free jazz scene! If that description sounds a bit obtuse, then just plug into the collection, and let the music do its thing – as it's got a very powerful vibe throughout – the kind of inspirational, socially conscious work that flourished best during the 70s – and which is finally getting its due all these many years later. The package is new territory for Ace/BGP, but they've done a great job as usual – picking key tracks from the era, and coming up with detailed notes on each of the long tracks. Titles include "Free Angela" by Bayete, "Bridge Into The New Age" by Azar Lawrence, "Tress Cun De O La" by Joe Henderson, "Ebony Queen" by McCoy Tyner, "Peace" by Idris Muhammad, "Mother Of The Future" by Norman Connors, "Brown Warm & Wintry" by Jack DeJohnette, "I've Known Rivers" by Gary Bartz, and "Fire" by Joe Henderson & Alice Coltrane.

A lost batch of soulful jazz from a massively overlooked source – the mighty Theresa Records, home to some really great recordings at the end of the 70s! Theresa was a tiny company formed in Oakland, CA at the end of the 70s – a spiritual heir to the sound of Impulse, Flying Dutchman, and other 70s powerhouse soul jazz labels – with a sound that was directly encapsulated in the label's own recordings of Pharoah Sanders at the time! After a few years of inactivity on the recording scene after his seminal sides for Impulse, Pharoah made a strong re-emergence on Theresa – working in a sweet style of soul jazz that was also picked up by some of the label's other strong artists. This excellent set was compiled in collaboration with Gilles Peterson – and features some of the hippest, most soulful tracks to come out on Theresa – work that takes off from the sound of Pharoah's earlier albums, into a whole new realm of expression! Titles include "Heart Is A Melody", "Rejoice", and "You've Got To Have Freedom" by Pharoah Sanders; "Samba" and "Pippin" by Ed Kelly; "Use Your Hands" and "Levels Of Consciousness" by Babatunde & Phenomena; and "Hip Funk" by Bishop Norman Williams & The One Mind Experience. 11 tracks in all!

The 5th volume in this well-chosen set of tracks – brought to you straight from the Chicago steppers underground! The set features a dozen tracks – running from smooth late 70s numbers to more recent titles, all reflecting the penchant for a sweet mellow groove that's kept the Chi-town stepping scene hot for all these years! Titles include "Sensually" by Raw To The Core, "I Was Wrong" by The Moonglows, "I'm Not In Love" by Dee Dee Sharp, "Easy To Love" by Body, "As You Are" by Pharoah Sanders & Phyllis Hyman, "Your Heart Belongs To Me" by The Supremes, "Nika" by Vicious, "Super Bad, Super Slick (part 1)" by James Brown, "House Party" by Fred Wesley, "Nyce & Slo" by Little Louis, and "Alone Without You" by Narada Michael Walden.

The John Coltrane sound stretching out to Infinity – beautifully collaborating core spiritual sounds recorded when The Great One was still alive, and later string passages done by Alice Coltrane in the early 70s! The initial tracks are very open and almost easygoing – not the full-on outside expressions of some other Coltrane unreleased sides from the time, but the more cosmic sound of Love Supreme – carried out by musicians that include Alice Coltrane on harp, piano, and organ – plus Pharoah Sanders on tenor, McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison and Charlie Haden on bass, Rashied Ali on percussion, and Elvin Jones on drums. The strings are surprisingly wonderful, too – kind of linking the Coltrane and post-Coltrane generations in ways that are really marvelous, and filled with the kind of majesty that Coltrane should have deserved while still on this planet! Titles include "Living Space", "Joy", "Leo", and "Peace On Earth".

Spiritual grooves galore – a magnificent set that brings together rare tracks from the 70s and 80s, plus a few like-minded contemporary cuts as well! The vibe here is very much up to the "waltz a nova" in the title – that modal mode that first came on strongly in the 60s, then was picked up even more by the post-Coltrane generation – who used its progressive rhythms to really stretch out to the skies in some very righteous ways! Most of the tunes here have a great little groove, even when gentle – and the package is put together beautifully, so that the music really builds as things roll on – picking up even more power than before, and really leaving us wanting more by the end. The whole thing was done by Toru Hashimoto – easily one of the best compilers of our generation – and the package runs for nearly 80 minutes in length, with cuts that include "Faith For My Mind" by Solar, "Little B's Poem" by Dee Dee Bridgewater, "After The Morning" by John Hicks, "Moves" by Doug Hammond, "Coltrane" by Descendents Of Mike & Phoebe, "Steam" by Charles Greenlee, "Naima" by Kindred Spirits Ensemble, "Black Forest Stomp" by Hipnosis, "Tropic Sons" by Abdul Rahim Ibrahim, "Children" by Haki R Madhubuti, and "Moment's Notice" by Pharoah Sanders.

One of Ornette Coleman's most groundbreaking albums – a set that takes his best free jazz energy of the 60s, and expands it out into the space of a longer suite – all originally designed as a film soundtrack, then never used in the movie at all! Yet even without the film placement, the album's one of Coleman's greatest – a unique blend of his best small combo 60s energy with some larger orchestrations that really go way out – mixing tones and modes from the soloists against a larger backdrop of woodwinds and strings. The result is mindblowing – very open-ended and freewheeling, yet filled with soul too – thanks to great alto and trumpet from Ornette, and raw tenor from Pharoah Sanders – working in the core quartet with David Izenzon on bass and Charles Moffett on drums. The set features one long double-length piece – four sides' worth of amazing music!

Arguably the most classic Alice Coltrane album on Impulse – and a strong group effort that features some great work from Pharoah Sanders! Coltrane leads two different small combos on the record – both with Sanders on saxes, plus either Cecil McBee or Charlie Haden on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums – plus assorted percussion from Tulsi and Majid Shabazz, and some really enigmatic work on oud by Vishnu Wood! Tracks are long and drawn out, and open with the beauty of a field of flowers meeting the dawn – as Alice plays with a sound that's gentle and poetic, but which also has some wonderfully dark undertones. Titles include "Stopover Bombay", "Isis & Osiris", "Shiva-Loka", and "Journey In Satchidananda".

A seminal set from John Coltrane – one of those amazing records that wasn't issued until a few years after his death – then blew folks' minds even further with the depths of his talents! The setting is a live performance in Japan from 1966 – a really open-ended, freewheeling, totally expressive session cut with a group that also includes Pharoah Sanders on tenor, Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums. Clearly, the group's opening up a huge amount of new territory here – not just for Coltrane, but for jazz in general – as they propel firmly forward on two very long tracks – really letting Trane's ideas spill forth, continuously building momentum. One of the definitive statements of "energy-jazz", and a recording that has gone onto become one of Trane's most-hailed albums ever – with the tracks "Peace On Earth" and "Meditations/Leo".

Mellow jazzy soul from the crossover genius of Norman Connors! The record is a beautiful blend of styles, and features vocals by Eleanore Mills and Phillip Mitchell – plus playing by Gary Bartz and Pharoah Sanders. Connors still has some of his jazz influences firmly in place, as you'll hear on the album's remake of Pharoah Sanders' "Thembi", taken in a mellow stepping tone, as well as a reading of Gato Barbieri's "Last Tango In Paris". Other tracks are more smooth soul oriented, and titles include "Destination Moon", "For You Everything", and "You Are Everything".

Wild early work from Joe McPhee – and actually pretty darn funky! This rare 1970s release features 3 long tracks – two of which were recorded live, with a tight combo that includes a very funky drummer! The album kicks off with the hard wailing "Nation Time", which begins with a shout from Joe, and which rolls into a vamping modal groove (almost Pharoah Sanders-ish) filled with spiritual tenor work by Joe, and some nice electric piano, sounding very off-kilter. Next up is "Shakey Jake", an excellent 13 minute funk number – with bubbling organ, vamping rhythms, and a nice extended jazz dance groove! It's a killer cut, and is the kind of number that Dusty Groove fans will totally love. Last up is "Scorpio's Dance", a pretty raw and somber track, with a nice open-ended loft jazz quality to it. Great stuff – and very nicely packaged!

Odean Pope's never sounded better – and this smoking trio set may well be one of the best illustrations of his power we've ever heard! There's a righteous focus to the record that grabs us right from the start – a bold, rich sound from his tenor that easily shows that Pope's well deserving of inclusion in a legacy that includes Archie Shepp, David Murray, and maybe even Pharoah Sanders – a voice on tenor that's incredibly clear and confident, yet filled with humanity too. Possibly, the setting of the record is what really lets Odean sparkle – an open trio with Lee Smith on bass and Billy Hart on drums – both players who have the same vibrancy as Pope, and who seem to work together with his spirit to really soar to the skies! A perfect tenor trio record – following in that Sonny Rollins/Village Vanguard legacy – with titles that include "Fresh Breeze", "The Garden Of Happiness", "Almost Like Part One", "12th Night", "You & Me", and "Good Question Two".

A tremendous bit of jazz history – 2 classic Archie Shepp albums on 1 CD! Yasmina features Archie Shepp at his spiritual best – recording in Paris in 1969, and absorbing a heck of a lot of pan-African influences! The centerpiece of the album is the amazing "Yasmina" – a long track that builds with passion and fire, pulsing with an intensity that you'd expect more from Pharoah Sanders than Shepp himself. Next up is "Sonny's Back", a wonderful straight jazz groover with Archie and Hank Mobley on twin tenors upfront – making a rare and memorable recorded appearance together! The set's capped off by a mellow version of "Body & Soul", one that points towards the more soulful side of Shepp's work in the 70s. Poem For Malcolm is one of Shepp's most memorable LPs for BYG. Side one has him playing with Burton Greene, Alan Silva, Philly Joe Jones, and Claude Delcloo on the extended Mamarose/Poem For Malcolm. The track starts out with very free playing, then moves into a more subdued passage, with Shepp's recitation of his "Poem For Malcolm". Side two has a great lineup that includes Grachan Moncour III, Malachi Favors, and Hank Mobley, who gives one of the wildest performances of his life! The group runs through the 20 minute track Rain Forest/Oleo, and begins with a dark, spare performance, then leaps into a reading of "Oleo" that's filled with fire.

A well-selected set of tracks by the legendary vocalist Leon Thomas – one that focuses squarely on his recordings for the Flying Dutchman label – with standouts from his own records, a crucial collaboration with Johnny Hodges, and a previously unreleased tune as well! The collection features a really wonderful range of music – some tunes with the righteous feel of Thomas' singing with Pharoah Sanders, some others with a tighter soul feel, and even a few more with a classic jazz approach that's mighty nice! The albums under Thomas' name often feature some great small group backings – with players who include Billy Harper on tenor, and Roy Haynes or Bernard Purdie on drums – and some of the larger backings feature excellent arrangements from Oliver Nelson and Pee Wee Ellis. Titles include "Shape Your Mind To Die", "Just In Time To See The Sun", "It's My Life I'm Fighting For", "The Creator Has A Master Plan", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", "China Doll", "Bags' Groove", "One", "Come Along", "Let's Go Down To Lucy's", "Love Each Other", "Balance Of Life (Peace Of Mind)", "Umbo Weti", "Welcome To New York", and a previously unreleased version of "Um Um Um".

A long-overdue compilation dedicated to the work of the great soul jazz vocalist Leon Thomas. If you don't know Thomas' own work, you might recognize him as the vocalist on some of Pharoah Sanders' great recordings, like "The Creator Has A Master Plan" and "Hum Allah Hum Allah". This beautifully packaged 2 LP set includes a bunch of tracks from his long out-of-print LPs on the Flying Dutchman label, plus tracks from other records in the 70's that he made appearances on, for a dozen cuts in all. The tracks are very well selected, and show the best side of Leon's soulful jazz style, with an emphasis on his more spiritual nature. Tracks include "Sun Song", "Balance Of Life", "Shape Your Mind To Die", "It's My Life I'm Fighting For", "Song For My Father", "Prince Of Peace", and a version of "The Creator Has a Master Plan". Nice set, and a much-needed tribute to one of the greatest jazz vocalists ever.

Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that moment – letting Leon spin out some spiritual vibes of his own, and step into a few fresh new styles as well! The album's plenty righteous right from the start – partly because the lineup includes James Spaulding on alto and flute, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and the enigmatic "Little Rock" on tenor – who is actually Pharoah Sanders – but also because Leon serves up a shorter take on "The Creator Has a Master Plan" – done in a great style! The album also features a classic vocal take on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father", with lyrics that we totally love – plus the frenetic "Malcolm's Gone" – and the tracks "One", "Echoes", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", and "Damn Nam". CD features three bonus tracks – a live recording of "Um Um Um" and "Damn Nam" – plus a take on "Night In Tunisia".

Some of the fiercest work recorded by Randy Weston in recent years – a set done with his "African Rhythms" group that includes percussionists Chief Bey and Neil Clarke, and which also features horn work by Benny Powell, Talib Kibwe, and Pharoah Sanders! The tracks are long, dark, and complicated – drawing on older African rhythms, but really moving into territory that's got the moody feel of recent spiritualist jazz. Titles include "Mystery Of Love", "Prayer Blues", "The Shang", "The Shrine", "Anu Anu", and "Creation".

A 2LP set on one CD, that collects some classic soul jazz sides from the glory days of the Impulse label – almost a "best of" set that features some undeniable 60s jazz treasures! Titles include "Stolen Moments" by Oliver Nelson, "Garvey's Ghost" by Max Roach, "Hora Decubitus" by Charles Mingus, "Le Matin Des Noire" by Archie Shepp, "Blue Nile" by Alice Coltrane, "The Creator Has A Master Plan" by Pharoah Sanders, and "A Love Supreme" by Alice Coltrane.

The most fully-formed album from Nat Birchall so far – and one that has him definitely going into another dimension in jazz, thanks to a slightly expanded lineup! The shift here is almost that betweeen the 60s spiritual sounds on Impulse Records, and the label's groundbreaking material in the post-Coltrane years of the early 70s – a time when folks like Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown, Alice Coltrane, and others were really helping to redefine a sense of spiritualism in jazz – yet always at the best moments still hanging onto the core sense of individualism that first got the movement started in the 60s! Nat Birchall is at the head of the group – blowing fantastic lines on tenor and soprano sax – searching and righteous, but always with a sense of gentleness too – a really special blend that makes the album sparkle. Other players include Adam Fairhall on piano, Corcy Mwamba on vibes, and Rachael Gladwin on harp – and there's lots of nice percussion touches that are nestled in on the bottom. Birchall wrote all tracks – and titles include "Ancient World", "Dance Of The Mystic", "Radiant Will", "Peace In Ninevah", and "Sacred Dimension".

The deepest album to date from saxophonist Nat Birchall – a set that's steeped in all the spiritual elements of his previous records, yet also stretches forth into rich new dimensions as well! Birchall's reeds have this complexity we've never heard before – soaring, searching in these really bold styles – while also still holding onto the core modal energy we've always liked in his music – a quality we've always liked to the best post-Coltrane sounds on Impulse Records! And indeed, there's a majesty and vision to this album that takes us back to Pharoah Sanders at his greatest – or maybe Joe Henderson blowing with Alice Coltrane – as Birchall soars to the skies on tenor and soprano sax – in a lineup that includes piano, vibes, bass, and lots of great percussion elements too. Tracks include "The Black Ark", "Dream Of Eden", "World Without Form", "Divine Harmony", "Return To Ithaca", and "Principle Of Beauty".

An amazing album from Build An Ark – even more spiritual and far-reaching than their first – and still with a vibe that rivals some of the most righteous jazz ever issued in the 70s on labels like Impulse and Strata East! The ensemble features both older and younger players – coming together in a collective exploration of some of the hipper sides of the jazz spectrum – all in a mode that recalls early genius of Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, and others from many years back – recorded in a style that's completely sensitive to the nuances of the music. Carlos Nino produced, and also contributed some of the tunes – and group members include Dwight Trible on vocals, Nate Morgan on piano, Adam Rudolph on kalimba, and Derf Reklaw on congas – but that's only the tip of the iceberg, given the size of the group. Titles include "Sunshine", "Healing Song", "Love Sweet Like Sugar Cane", "Dawn", "River Run", "When Ancestors Speak", "Morning Glory", "In Her Smile", and "You Yourself Are The Key To The Universe".

One of the most righteous albums of the 21st century so far – and an instant classic we'll be loving for years! Build An Ark are a seriously heavy soul jazz ensemble, with roots and traditions that stretch back to the most righteous days of the 70s underground – the brainchild of producer Carlos Nino and vocalist Dwight Trible – and featuring work by soul jazz stalwarts that include Phil Ranelin, Nate Morgan, Derf Reklaw, Adam Rudolph, and others – all coming together in a fresh, new expression of the righteous ideals that first motivated their original work! Under the guidance of Nino, the group really gels together nicely – working in a loose mode that's a nice change from the tighter cosmic 21st century soul of the European scene – and returning to the organic, almost folksy forms that first emerged on 70s independent labels like Tribe, Strata East, and Nimbus. LA luminary Nate Morgan plays some great Fender Rhodes on many of the album's best tracks – and singer Dwight Trible has a soulful range that's somewhere between the style of Terry Callier and Leon Thomas. This EP features 5 tracks in all – including a massively beautiful remake of Pharoah Sanders "You've Got To Have Freedom", plus Phil Ranelin's "Vibes From The Tribe", and the original tracks "Pure Imagination/Tortoise & The Hare", "Door Of The Cosmos (take 1)", and "Marcia" – the last 2 of which weren't on the full LP!

Early 70s greatness from Don Cherry – a double album's worth of profoundly spiritual soundscapes paired with lots of weird effects – and a very laidback groove overall! Tracks are written by Cherry, Terry Riley, Pharoah Sanders, and Nana Vasconcelos – and include performances by Don on trumpet, voice, and harmonium. Lots of cool percussion elements by the group, with some tabla and other Indian instrumentation. Titles include "Elixir", "Relativity Suite (Parts 1 & 2)", "Terry's Tune", "Hope", "The Creator Has a Master Plan", and "Resa". In a cool, trippy gatefold, too!

Easily one of the most powerful albums ever cut by Don Cherry – a searing set of tracks done for Blue Note in the late 60s – and featuring some tremendous tenor work by Pharoah Sanders! There's a tightness and level of energy here that surpasses even Cherry's other excellent Blue Note sessions – a rawness that recalls the style forged often on key ESP albums of the 60s, but honed here into a slightly tighter mode. Sanders' horn is especially well-placed in the set – and pushes Cherry past the spacier notes of other recordings, in a way that unlocks fire from the years with Ornette – but which opens up into a much freer groove. The rest of the group includes Henry Grimes on bass and Ed Blackwell on drums – both a perfect match for the quartet – and titles include the 17 minute "Unite", plus "There Is A Bomb", "Awake Nu", "Taste Maker", and "The Thing".

Arguably the most classic Alice Coltrane album on Impulse – and a strong group effort that features some great work from Pharoah Sanders! Coltrane leads two different small combos on the record – both with Sanders on saxes, plus either Cecil McBee or Charlie Haden on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums – plus assorted percussion from Tulsi and Majid Shabazz, and some really enigmatic work on oud by Vishnu Wood! Tracks are long and drawn out, and open with the beauty of a field of flowers meeting the dawn – as Alice plays with a sound that's gentle and poetic, but which also has some wonderfully dark undertones. Titles include "Stopover Bombay", "Isis & Osiris", "Shiva-Loka", and "Journey In Satchidananda".

A classic compilation of material from the hip later years of Impulse – put together with a title that's a bit misleading, given that some of this stuff was clearly getting some play on underground FM radio! There's some key righteous classics here – like "Attica Blues" and "Money Blues" by Archie Shepp, "Astral Traveling" by Pharoah Sanders, "Galaxy In Turiya" and "Blue Nile" by Alice Coltrane, and "Worry Bout It Later" by Cliff Coulter – alongside other tracks that include "Larry Of Arabia" by Chico Hamilton, "Wave" by Ahmad Jamal, and "Crystalized Tears" by John Klemmer.

A really great look at Impulse Records – one that gets past the obvious iconic elements of the label, and really shows the true spectrum of amazing music it handled during the 60s and 70s! Unlike other Impulse sets, which often stick close to the big-name recordings of the 60s, this one stretches way up to the mid 70s – to show the really inventive, creative sounds the label put forth in the post-Coltrane years – music inspired by the great one, and moving past him as well – even into some of the more funky territory you might have found over at Blue Note or Columbia! The 2CD package features 30 tracks in all – and cuts include "Once Upon A Time" by Marion Brown, "Didn't I Tell You" by John Handy, "Spirit Dance" by Michael White, "Sita Ram" by Alice Coltrane, "Roadwork" by Howard Roberts, "Flame" by Keith Jarrett, "Water Music" by Albert Ayler, "Mansion Worlds" by Pharoah Sanders, "Jazz N Samba" by Milt Jackson, "Caravan" by Freddie Hubbard, "Blues For We" by Mel Brown, "How Insensitive" by Ahmad Jamal, "Summertime" by Art Blakey, "The Breeze & I" by Curtis Fuller, "Broadwalk Samba" by Hank Jones & Oliver Nelson, and "Evil Eye" by Chico Hamilton.

A great set from Hamiet Bluiett – almost back to his roots in the St Louis underground scene, as the album's a live recording of long spiritual jazz tracks, arguably a lot more compelling than most of Bluiett's studio work from the time! The album was recorded at Sweet Basil in 1983 – with a group that features John Hicks on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Chief Bey playing some extra African percussion. Bluiett's tone is wonderful – deep and round, but also raspy, almost in the manner of Pharoah Sanders – and the group plays an incredible version of Wayne Shorter's "Footprints", a nice take on Curtis Lundy's "Gumbo", and the cuts "Song Song", "Ebu", and "Headless Blues".

An incredible collection of revolutionary jazz album cover art from the 60s & 70s – bold, vivid and unforgettable art for bold, vivid and unforgettable jazz – compiled and edited by Gilles Peterson and Stuart Baker! It's a snapshot of an era in jazz music when cultural and stylistic boundaries were besting wide open – and many of the ones documented are the holy grails of the era – pressed in small quantities and firing up the rare crate diggers since! Iconic art for labels such asa BYG/Actuel, Strata East, Nimbus, ESP and many more, and artists including Sun Ra, Phil Cohran, Pharoah Sanders, Prince Lasha, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, and Marcus Belgrave to name just a few. Gilles Peterson, Stuart Baker and Soul Jazz have done an exceptionally great job with the notes and text, too – much better than other books of its kind! Heavy duty, large format hardcover, to give you true-to-life-size cover art – as it was meant to be seen! 179 pages.

Afro-centric jazz from the 70s through the 90s – a real spiritual journey in music, compiled from a host of hard to find records, most of which are long out of print! The music on the collection is from three different decades, but the set's got a wonderfully unified feel – thanks to a strong spiritual current that runs through all the tunes, and a linked heritage of performance that was shared by many of the players over the years. Tracks are from a very diverse set of sources – including many American and European indie labels of the 60s and 70s – and all tunes are long, soulful, and plenty darn righteous! Titles include "Song For Mozambique" by Archie Shepp, "Africa" by Sathima B Benjamin, "The Almoravid" by Joe Chambers, "Our Roots Began In Africa" by Pharoah Sanders, "Days Gone By" by Moe Koffman, "Children" by Nation/African Liberation Arts Ensemble, "Mrafu" by Nate Morgan, "Afro Blue" by J Life, "Desert Fairy Princess" by Adele Sebastian, and "Banks Of The Nile" by Carlos Garnett.

Hu Vibrational brings a pounding instrumental mix of percussion, electronic beats, and African-inspired jazz! The loose group feature multi-instrumentalist Adam Rudolph (who has played with Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock and Don Cherry to name a few) on all types of acoustic drums, shakers, bamboo flutes and well beyond, avant garde drummer Hamid Drake on the trap and more, plus experimental beat makers/left field hip hop figures like Daedelus and Carlos Nino/Ammon Contact. What's really nice about this album is how well it coalesces throughout – the crew really finds a hypnotic groove all the way through, and it's not at all the disconnected mess that lesser figures in the experimental community often come up with! A tight, inventive surprise from the ever reliable Soul Jazz label. Tracks include "Joyous", "We Walk", "Friends And Gardens", "Locomotion", "Feet On A Beautiful Planet", "Walkabout It", "In The Here", "Sunkissed", "Return To Earth" and more.