Six Monk's Compositions (1987)
Artist: Anthony Braxton

The band Anthony Braxton assembled for this unique exploration of the compositions of Thelonious Monk is one of the wonders of the composer's retinue. Braxton, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Buell Neidlinger, and drummer Bill Osborne use six Monk tunes and go hunting for harmonic invention; in order, they are "Brilliant Corners," "Reflections,"... Read More

Crescent with Love
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

This two CD set from the Evidence label features tenor-saxophonist Pharoah Sanders accompanied by a supportive rhythm section (pianist William Henderson, bassist Charles Fambrough and drummer Sherman Ferguson). Although there are some passionate moments, this is actually one of his mellower sessions and he explores such songs as "Misty," "In a... Read More

Welcome to Love
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

When this was first released, the slow, straight sounds of Pharoah Sanders on a series of mostly famous ballads came as a bit of a surprise to some. Others saw Sanders as following the road of his mentor, John Coltrane, who had recorded most of these tunes himself. In retrospect, the inside playing of Sanders is less of a surprise, the... Read More

Moonchild
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

By this point in his career, Sanders had largely withdrawn from the kind of screeching avant-gardism on which he at first staked his reputation. The opening "Moon Child," with its attractively spacy vocals, is reminiscent of the days of "The Creator Has a Master Plan," but this version sounds too contrived to rival the classic earlier recording.... Read More

Pharoah's First
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

Pharoah Sanders's debut as a leader has been reissued on this ESP CD. Sanders, who is joined by trumpeter Stan Foster, pianist Jane Getz, bassist William Bennett and drummer Marvin Pattillo, sounds remarkably like John Coltrane on "Seven by Seven"; he had not found his own musical personality yet. "Bethera" is a bit more distinctive and overall... Read More

Brains on Fire
Artist: Heiner Stadler

African themes and classical motifs filter through an excellent jazz ensemble under Stadler's direction. "The Fugue #2," "Heide," and "All Tones" are all extended pieces. With Joe Farrell, Don Friedman, Jimmy Owens, Tyrone Washington, Garnett Brown, Joe Chambers, and Barre Phillips. Sextet and quartet recordings, with Stadler on piano on quartet... Read More

The Way Ahead
Artist: Archie Shepp

The Way Ahead was a turning point for Archie Shepp. For starters, he had looked all over the jazz/improv arena for the proper combination of players -- without a piano. One can speculate that this was because he cut his first teeth with pianist Cecil Taylor and that would perhaps ruin anybody for life. Recorded in 1969, The Way Ahead featured... Read More

Goin' Home
Artist: Archie Shepp

Archie Shepp's two duet albums with pianist Horace Parlan on SteepleChase (the other one is 1980's Trouble in Mind) both find the innovative avant-garde tenor in relaxed and melodic form, respectfully interpreting music of the 1920s and before. Goin' Home features Shepp (who doubles on soprano) and Parlan playing tasteful versions of nine... Read More

Thembi
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

Recorded with two different ensembles, Thembi was a departure from the slowly developing, side-long, mantra-like grooves Pharoah Sanders had been pursuing for most of his solo career. It's musically all over the map but, even if it lacks the same consistency of mood as many of Sanders' previous albums, it does offer an intriguingly wide range of... Read More

Live at the East
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

By 1971 Pharoah Sanders's playing essentially alternated between two moods: ferocious and peaceful. This live LP (whose contents have not yet been reissued on CD) gives one a good example of how the passionate tenor sounded in clubs during the early '70s. Sanders is joined by an impressive group of players: trumpeter Marvin "Hannibal" Peterson,... Read More

Live
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

This album features Pharoah Sanders playing some no-nonsense tenor in a quartet with pianist John Hicks, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Idris Muhammad. Sanders performs "It's Easy to Remember" (in a style very reminiscent of early-'60s John Coltrane), an original blues and two of his compositions including the passionate "You've Got to Have... Read More

Elevation
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

Elevation, Pharoah Sanders' final album for Impulse!, is a mixed bag. Four of the five cuts were recorded live at the Ash Grove in Los Angeles in September of 1973, and the lone studio track, "Greeting to Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner)," was recorded in the same month at Wally Heider's studio. The live date is fairly cohesive, with beautiful modal... Read More

Communications
Artist: Jazz Composer's Orchestra of America

German-born composer/trumpeter Michael Mantler and his then-wife Carla Bley were instrumental in developing within jazz the idea of self-sufficiency and independence from established record companies. Their creation of the Jazz Composer's Orchestra, with recordings released on their own label, was the culmination of this endeavor, and the first... Read More

The Best of Pharoah Sanders
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

This out-of-print double-LP has some of the most rewarding Pharoah Sanders performances for the Impulse label. Spanning a four-year period (although all but one number is from 1969-70), Sanders is heard at his best on such selections as the two-part "Creator Has a Master Plan" with singer Leon Thomas, "Let Us Go into the House of the Lord" and... Read More