Search - Pharoah Sanders :: Jewels of Thought

Stunning followup to "Karma".

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 10/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1969 was a banner year for Pharoah Sanders-- having already recorded two albums (although "Izipho Zam" would wait several years to see release) and having generated quite a buzz with "Karma" and the stunning "The Creator Has a Masterplan", Sanders was finally establishing himself as separate from John Coltrane-- indeed, with a mentor such as that, establishing your own identity must be extraordinarily difficult.



This was the framework into which Sanders entered the studio for the third time this year, together with vocalist Leon Thomas and pianist Lonnie Liston Smith, who were so crucial to the sound of the last two records, Sanders laid down the two performances that would make up "Jewels of Thought".



The first, "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum Allah", previously recorded as "Prince of Peace", finds Sanders, Thomas and Smith joined by Cecil McBee on bass and drummers Roy Haynes and Idris Muhammed. The piece, based around a three-beat-one-rest percussion pattern and a dancing, swinging piano line opens with Sanders stating his theme beautifully before deferring to Thomas, who after a brief spoken introduction, sings beautifully in his resonant baritone the song (with a relatively traditional structure) before taking solo space on one of his yodels. Smith solos beautifully and delicately (although the dialog between Haynes and Muhammed steals the show) before Sanders returns for a fierce solo that manages to be both explosive and coherent.



"Sun in Aquarius" is something rather different-- Sanders, Smith and Thomas are again joined by McBee and Muhammad, but with a second bassist (Richard Davis) rather than a second drummer and everyone picking up percussion at one time or another. The piece begins with a drone before evaporating into an explosion of inside-the-piano playing and uncontrollable screeching from Sanders until it finally settles into a two-chord melody similar to 'Hum-Allah'. Sanders blows beautifully, stating theme and soloing around it, Thomas supports in yodel, and the whole thing is just downright fantastic.



It may not receive the recognition that "Karma" does, but "Jewels of Thought" is pretty much its equal. Highly recommended."

An African Midnight

Thomas Dworschak | 05/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum Allah" is one of my favourite songs. The tenor sax playing is very intense, and Leon Thomas' yodeling is a surprise to everyone who thought this couldn't be found outside of Switzerland. Some other African instruments (percussions and thumb piano) add colours, and "Sun of Aquarius" (especially the beginning) made me think of a place somewhere near Ouagadougou at night. The connection of piano and saxophone outbursts, African instruments and a little bit naive tunes make this album so interesting and intense."

Simply a masterpiece!

J. E. Holden | UK | 08/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pharoah Sanders is a wonderfully gifted saxophonist and a man doubly gifted with one of the most powerful voices of the twentieth century in any genre of music. In this album he demonstrates both of these sublime talents in two diverse tracks. Hum-allah is essentially a piece with the feel of sunrise. Beginning with simple clapping and a basic piano riff, layers of percussion and woodwind are slowly intertwined with the simple riff and a delightful tune emerges. The effect is transcendental and is an extremely heatwarming and humane piece, especially when Pharoah begins to sing. Sun in Aquarius is more of a piece for sunset and is a mystical amalgamation of layered percussion and 'free' playing. This is a powerful piece that is hard to take in at first, but with several listenings, one becomes accustomed to its evokations of spirits and nightly creatures. This ends in a tone more similar to the hum-allah. The result is a masterpiece of an album that you will never tire of."