Pharoah (album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Pharoah
| type = studio
| artist = Pharoah Sanders
| cover = Pharoah (album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 1977
| recorded = August and September 1976
| studio =
| genre = Jazz
| length = 40:20
| label = India Navigation
| producer = India Navigation Company
| chronology = Pharoah Sanders
| prev_title = Elevation
| prev_year = 1974
| next_title = Love Will Find a Way
| next_year = 1977
}}
Pharoah is an album by the saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, recorded in 1976 and released on the India Navigation label.[http://www.jazzdisco.org/pharoah-sanders/catalog/#india-navigation-in-1027 Pharoah Sanders discography] accessed January 12, 2015 The album was reissued in 2023, along with two live performances of "Harvest Time".
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pharoah-mw0000092946 |last=Bush |first=John |title=Pharoah – Pharoah Sanders | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}
| rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
| rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=7 |page=245}}
| rev3 = Pitchfork
| rev3score = 8.9/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/pharoah-sanders-pharoah/ |title=Pharoah Sanders: Pharoah Album Review |website=Pitchfork |last=Richardson |first=Mark |date=September 16, 2023 |access-date=September 17, 2023}}
| rev4 = The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide
| rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |editor-last=Swenson |editor-first=John |title=The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide |publisher=Random House |year=1999 |pages=593 }}
}}
In a review for AllMusic, John Bush acknowledged that "the playing is excellent", but stated that Sanders was "beginning to drift into watery new age muzak." He concluded: "Clearly, Pharoah Sanders was losing his way a full ten years after the death of John Coltrane."
A writer for The Jazz Spot called the album "one of the most underrated records of the artist's career", and noted that the three tracks "denote an enormous originality and honesty". He commented: "Its diversity is complemented with a regular and uniform quality throughout the recording."{{cite web |url=https://thejazzspot.tumblr.com/post/91687136403/pharoah-sanders-pharoah-1977-india-navigation |title=Pharoah Sanders – Pharoah |website=The Jazz Spot |access-date=October 17, 2022}}
A 2023 review of the reissue by Pitchfork was given the site's "Best New Reissue" distinction, with Mark Richardson writing that it "captures a feeling of unearthly magic" as "the modest recording is perfect for the music, framing a peculiar mood and atmosphere that's lusty and joyous one moment and haunting and meditative the next".
Track listing
All compositions by Pharoah Sanders.
- "Harvest Time" – 20:15
- "Love Will Find a Way" – 14:31
- "Memories of Edith Johnson" – 5:40
Personnel
- Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone, percussion, vocals
- Bedria Sanders – harmonium (track 1)
- Clifton "Jiggs" Chase – organ (tracks 2 & 3)
- Tisziji Munoz – guitar
- Steve Neil – bass
- Greg Bandy – drums (tracks 2 & 3)
- Lawrence Killian – percussion
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ 2023 chart performance for Pharoah ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Germany4|54|id=524821|artist=Pharoah Sanders|album=Pharoah|rowheader=true|access-date=September 22, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|UKDigital|41|date=20230922|rowheader=true|access-date=September 23, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|UKIndependent|38|date=20230922|rowheader=true|access-date=September 23, 2023}} |