He was John Coltrane’s traveling companion in the 1960s and one of the pioneers of ethno-jazz, imbued with various influences. The information on his hospitalization circulated in jazz circles at the end of the week. Pharoah Sanders passed away in Los Angeles.
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Published on 24/09/2022 16:50
Update on 24/09/2022 17:10
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Pharoah Sanders, one of the most creative saxophonists of the 20th century, who had slipped African and Indian influences into his music, died on Saturday September 24 at the age of 81. “We are devastated to announce that Pharoah Sanders has passed away. He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles,” said the Luaka Bop label in a press release and on social networks.
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
Born Farrell Sanders on October 13, 1940 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Pharoah Sanders had had a great career as a leader. At the same time, he had worked in groups of artists such as Don Cherry, Alice Coltrane, Kenny Garrett among others, and before these, of course, John Coltrane. He was a member of the group of the legendary saxophonist and took part in nearly a dozen of his recordings, between Ascension in 1965 and the final sessions of Coltrane, who died prematurely at age 40 in 1967.
By the end of his life, John Coltrane was beginning to venture into new musical directions that would be called free jazz. Sanders has embarked on this path. He is also considered one of the pioneers of ethno-jazz, this jazz whose rhythms and harmonies have their sources in other continents such as Africa and Asia.