PHAROAH SANDERS "Elevation" LP Gatefold Quadraphonic NM/NM 1974

$

36

AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek  [-]

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 piano work from Joe Bonner, Pharoah playing tenor and soprano as well as a myriad of percussion instruments and vocalizing in places, and a percussion and rhythm section that included Michael Carvin on drums, bassist Calvin Hill, and hand drummers John Blue and Lawrence Killian. The standout on the set is the opener. At 18 minutes, it's the longest thing here and gives the band a chance to stretch into African and Latin terrains. Sanders' long, loping, suspended lines create a kind of melodic head that is underscored by Bonner's hypnotically repetitive piano work, playing the same chord progression over and over again as he begins his solos (one on each horn). Somewhere near the five-minute mark, Pharoah enters into a primal wail and the whole thing becomes unhinged, moving into a deep blowing session of free improv. Honks, squeals, wails, and Bonner pounding the hell out of the piano erase any trace of what came before, and this goes on for four minutes before the theme restates itself and once more the magic begins. It's utterly compelling and engaging. "Saud" finds a host of percussionists (including Sanders) along with Hill on tamboura, Bonner, and violinist Michael White. It's a subtle and droning work, full of a constant hum. The other long track, "The Gathering," clocks in at almost 14 minutes, but instead of being a somber nocturnal work it's a lively South African-inspired work that nods to Dollar Brand for inspiration. A gorgeous, nearly carnival piece, it rolls and chugs and runs along on the steam created by Bonner's beautiful chord work. The chorus of vocals chanting in the foreground and background adds to the party feel, but once again it choogles right off the track into some rather angry and then spooky free improv, with a fine solo by Hill. This may not rate as highly as some of Sanders' other recordings for the label like Thembi or Karma, but there is plenty here for fans, and it is well worth the investigation and the purchase.

Pharoah Sanders ?– Elevation

Label:

Impulse! ?– AS-9261

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Quadraphonic, Gatefold

Country:

US

Released:

1974

Genre:

Jazz

Style:

Avant-garde Jazz, Free Jazz

TracklistHide Credits

A1 Elevation

Bass – Calvin Hill

Congas, Bell Tree – Lawrence Killian

Drums – Michael Carvin

Percussion – Jimmy Hopps, John Blue

Piano, Horn [Cow Horn], Flute [Wood] – Joe Bonner

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Shaker, Vocals, Bells, Percussion – Pharoah Sanders

18:26

A2 Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner)

Percussion – Jimmy Hopps, Lawrence Killian, Michael Carvin, Pharoah Sanders

Piano – Joe Bonner

Tambura [Tamboura] – Calvin Hill

4:15

B1 Ore-Se-Rere (Nigerian Juju HiLife)

Bass, Vocals – Calvin Hill

Congas, Bell Tree, Vocals – Lawrence Killian

Drums, Vocals – Michael Carvin

Percussion, Vocals – John Blue

Piano, Vocals, Percussion – Joe Bonner

Vocals, Percussion – Pharoah Sanders

5:44

B2 The Gathering

Bass – Calvin Hill

Congas, Bell Tree – Lawrence Killian

Drums – Michael Carvin

Percussion – John Blue

Piano, Horn [Cow Horn], Flute [Wood], Vocals, Percussion – Joe Bonner

Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Percussion – Pharoah Sanders

14:09

B3 Spiritual Blessing

Bell Tree – Lawrence Killian

Drums – Michael Carvin

Harmonium – Joe Bonner

Percussion – Jimmy Hopps, John Blue

Soprano Saxophone – Pharoah Sanders

Tambura [Tamboura] – Calvin Hill

6:20

Companies, etc.

Published By – Pharoah Sanders Music

Phonographic Copyright (p) – ABC Records

Copyright (c) – ABC Records

Lacquer Cut At – Kendun Recorders

Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute

Credits

Artwork [Illustration] – Bodhi Wind

Design – Tim Bryant (2)

Engineer – Baker Bigsby

Producer – Ed Michel

Written-By – Pharoah Sanders

Notes

Gatefold cover

Compatible Stereo/Quadrophonic Recording (QS encoded)

A1 Recorded in performance at The Ash Grove, Los Angeles, September 9, 1973

A2 Recorded September 13, 1973 at Wally Heider Recording, San Francisco

B1 Recorded in performance at The Ash Grove, Los Angeles, September 7, 1973

B2 Recorded in performance at The Ash Grove, Los Angeles, September 7, 1973

B3 Recorded in performance at The Ash Grove, Los Angeles, September 9, 1973

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.