Unquestionably an album that must be listened to as a whole rather than a track taken out of context, but if it sparks an interest in Pharoah Sanders (Karma is a great album to start with), it's doing its job. 🤘
When Brian said he would have cried if the ending went on for another 30 seconds I thought back to my first time listening to this when it came out and I was bawling at this part because of the whole build up to this on a full listen.
Seeing Pharoah live at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Fest in 1973 (I think it was 73) was one of those life affirming events that rarely ever happen. AN astonishing musician whose legacy cannot be overstated. That he is still making great music in his 80s is testament to his creativity. This is not his usual overtones and energy jazz, but a true melding of visions.
I'm into all kinds of music; especially into jazz, academic ("classical") and prog; and I had heard obviously of Pharoah but never rrally dig into his music. I was listening to a random playlist and this piece appeared. WOW! This is one of those very few pieces that I totally believe to be wholly perfect from start to finish, like Close to the Edge, Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte, Debussy's Arabesque n°1, Verklärte Nacht, Bach's Cello Suite n° 1, Coltrane's Alabama, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Eleanor Rigby, Hallowed Be Thy Name or Gillespie's Bebop. I'm so lucky to have found this by accident.
Pharoah Sanders is a free jazz saxophonist (he's playing the sax at the beginning of the track) and Floating Points is a music producer and dj. Very unlikely collaboration, but it yielded gold
(got here via yer mention of it in Amenra react) Am in awe of this and feel deeply enriched. Also find it so remarkable how deftly you find the words to convey the beauty of something so amazing(kudos). Cheers🌿
A superb piece of music. Pharoah is truly a great artist, whose instantly identifiable sound was forged in the blazing furnace of jazz history. As a guitarist, I’m far more influenced by his soulful virtuosity than I am by even my favourite guitar masters. I was blessed to see him perform a couple of years ago, backed by group of brilliant young musicians.
One of the things you say about feeling so small amidst that volume/weight of sound is one thing I love about classical music that I would agree that rock/metal typically doesn't recreate. Though I haven't heard such epic pieces live, I have heard them with a good speaker system and even in that setting it's an amazing experience. Listening to the finale of Mahler's 2nd Symphony, especially, was earth-shattering for me in my early 20s.
I would love to see you do some Sun Ra, another jazz great. Anything of of his albums Either God is More Than Love Can Ever Be or Lanquidity. Nuclear War is another classic. Or any of his noisier big band free-jazz stuff would be cool to see you pick apart too.
I know of Pharoah Sanders because of his work with John Coltrane during Coltrane's late, experimental, "free jazz" period. Funny this ended up on "beautiful music" week as "beautiful" would be the last word I would've associated with Sanders during that period! His work with Coltrane was as if he was trying to get his sax to make as many whaling, pained, plaintive, mournful sounds as possible, as if he and Coltrane were trying to scream and cry through their instruments to the world. This, of course, is something completely different but, oddly enough, I can hear it as a much more Zen-like approach to the kind of spiritual music Sanders was trying to make with late-period Coltrane, which was much more abrasive and confrontational; if the old work was trying to "ascend" above all the strife of the world, this is trying to make peace with it. Beautiful stuff indeed, and has me interested in checking out the whole thing.
This album Promises is cutting-edge stuff and a very specific mood. I would recommend Beacons by Cloudkicker for a similar highly-focused adrenaline rush: th-cam.com/video/VQ4Js7doKA0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=pMQstfMuescBw4H1&t=1
You know when you're deeply asleep having a gorgeous and warm fuzzy dream, and you feel so safe and optimistic, then something starts to go slightly awry and it slowly grows until that dream starts the inevitable slide into nightmare territory? And you know you're plummeting towards the dark pool of nightmare but before you get there you wake up. You realize your escaped back to reality but the adrenaline from the dream is still coursing through you? Well............that's this piece of music. Unbelievable experience.
Yeah, we've checked out a few. The two that immediately pop into my head are Penderecki and Messiaen. All of it is modern Classical though, I don't think I've had any classics from the Renaissance or Baroque periods on the channel yet.
Unfortunately modern avant-garde is a blind spot for me. Hopefully someone else can chime in with something. Though Colin Stetson comes to mind. He's just one dude with a saxophone but he always seems to bring me to tears. Check out The Love It Took To Leave You. I did a video breaking down his technique but I urge you watch his playthrough without my commentary first.
@@CriticalReactions thanks! And I appreciate the analysis you gave of this song. Gives me a deeper appreciation for the emotional tone in the song (Especially when you talked about using the minimum possible air/vibration on the reed instruments - never really thought about that).
@@CriticalReactions I totally get it Brian I've got a super long goatee I screwed up and shaved off so many times mustache too I shave my head because it's a brillo pad and hurts if I don't it looks good man just quite a big change that took me by surprise
Promises is probably the most important record of the 21st century, but it's gonna take years for most people to catch up on that
You are correct
Unquestionably an album that must be listened to as a whole rather than a track taken out of context, but if it sparks an interest in Pharoah Sanders (Karma is a great album to start with), it's doing its job. 🤘
When Brian said he would have cried if the ending went on for another 30 seconds I thought back to my first time listening to this when it came out and I was bawling at this part because of the whole build up to this on a full listen.
Seeing Pharoah live at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Fest in 1973 (I think it was 73) was one of those life affirming events that rarely ever happen. AN astonishing musician whose legacy cannot be overstated. That he is still making great music in his 80s is testament to his creativity. This is not his usual overtones and energy jazz, but a true melding of visions.
Gorgeous Album, breathtaking listening experience, my favorite of the last few years!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so pleased, fun to watch!
This album brought me to tears. Specifically this Movement
I have listened to this album so many times since it came out.
When I first heard this on the album, it brought me to tears. And it was the first time I've felt that from music in a long time.
I'm into all kinds of music; especially into jazz, academic ("classical") and prog; and I had heard obviously of Pharoah but never rrally dig into his music. I was listening to a random playlist and this piece appeared.
WOW! This is one of those very few pieces that I totally believe to be wholly perfect from start to finish, like Close to the Edge, Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte, Debussy's Arabesque n°1, Verklärte Nacht, Bach's Cello Suite n° 1, Coltrane's Alabama, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Eleanor Rigby, Hallowed Be Thy Name or Gillespie's Bebop. I'm so lucky to have found this by accident.
Masterpiece whata way to go out!
Rip pharaoh sanders. This album is really great, love it
You haaaave to listen to this whole album, just incredible music
Pharoah Sanders is a free jazz saxophonist (he's playing the sax at the beginning of the track) and Floating Points is a music producer and dj. Very unlikely collaboration, but it yielded gold
I also like the fact that Pharoah Sanders reached out to Floating Points first
(got here via yer mention of it in Amenra react) Am in awe of this and feel deeply enriched. Also find it so remarkable how deftly you find the words to convey the beauty of something so amazing(kudos). Cheers🌿
Thank you. This is a big reason I come to your channel, you help me deepen my appreciation for music I already know and love. That’s not easily found.
Damn.. the power of music is real
A superb piece of music. Pharoah is truly a great artist, whose instantly identifiable sound was forged in the blazing furnace of jazz history. As a guitarist, I’m far more influenced by his soulful virtuosity than I am by even my favourite guitar masters. I was blessed to see him perform a couple of years ago, backed by group of brilliant young musicians.
Thank you
Saw this live with Arkestra in LA a few months ago. Incredible experience.
Yes! Listen to it ALL
One of the things you say about feeling so small amidst that volume/weight of sound is one thing I love about classical music that I would agree that rock/metal typically doesn't recreate. Though I haven't heard such epic pieces live, I have heard them with a good speaker system and even in that setting it's an amazing experience. Listening to the finale of Mahler's 2nd Symphony, especially, was earth-shattering for me in my early 20s.
I would love to see you do some Sun Ra, another jazz great.
Anything of of his albums Either God is More Than Love Can Ever Be or Lanquidity.
Nuclear War is another classic. Or any of his noisier big band free-jazz stuff would be cool to see you pick apart too.
You really should listen to the whole piece, not just a single movement
I know of Pharoah Sanders because of his work with John Coltrane during Coltrane's late, experimental, "free jazz" period. Funny this ended up on "beautiful music" week as "beautiful" would be the last word I would've associated with Sanders during that period! His work with Coltrane was as if he was trying to get his sax to make as many whaling, pained, plaintive, mournful sounds as possible, as if he and Coltrane were trying to scream and cry through their instruments to the world. This, of course, is something completely different but, oddly enough, I can hear it as a much more Zen-like approach to the kind of spiritual music Sanders was trying to make with late-period Coltrane, which was much more abrasive and confrontational; if the old work was trying to "ascend" above all the strife of the world, this is trying to make peace with it. Beautiful stuff indeed, and has me interested in checking out the whole thing.
Excellent comparison between his older and newer works. Now I gotta find some of his collabs with Coltrane to see what that whaling is all about :)
I'm still patiently waiting for this to happen on a reaction ) @@CriticalReactions
When I first heard this it made me think of an old BBC documentary about nocturnal wildlife in urban environments. Its beautiful stuff.
What more classical music is like this/inspired this stuff? I need more
This album Promises is cutting-edge stuff and a very specific mood. I would recommend Beacons by Cloudkicker for a similar highly-focused adrenaline rush: th-cam.com/video/VQ4Js7doKA0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=pMQstfMuescBw4H1&t=1
it hurt my soul when you said you didnt know pharoah
Definitely need to listen to the full album, its great
Hey just letting you know that if you are in LA there is a one off performance of this on the 20th
You HAVE to do karma by pharoah sanders now. Complete opposite end of the spectrum but beautiful all the same
You know when you're deeply asleep having a gorgeous and warm fuzzy dream, and you feel so safe and optimistic, then something starts to go slightly awry and it slowly grows until that dream starts the inevitable slide into nightmare territory? And you know you're plummeting towards the dark pool of nightmare but before you get there you wake up. You realize your escaped back to reality but the adrenaline from the dream is still coursing through you? Well............that's this piece of music. Unbelievable experience.
That's a very nice visual for the intensity that this piece has.
It makes me curious, have you done an analysis of any classical music?
and while I'm typing... is the Claude Debussy song/piece classical? 😛
Yeah, we've checked out a few. The two that immediately pop into my head are Penderecki and Messiaen. All of it is modern Classical though, I don't think I've had any classics from the Renaissance or Baroque periods on the channel yet.
Such an experience listening to this full album. Any other recommendations that are similar to this?
Unfortunately modern avant-garde is a blind spot for me. Hopefully someone else can chime in with something. Though Colin Stetson comes to mind. He's just one dude with a saxophone but he always seems to bring me to tears. Check out The Love It Took To Leave You. I did a video breaking down his technique but I urge you watch his playthrough without my commentary first.
@@CriticalReactions thanks! And I appreciate the analysis you gave of this song. Gives me a deeper appreciation for the emotional tone in the song (Especially when you talked about using the minimum possible air/vibration on the reed instruments - never really thought about that).
#WTM6H
good music 🎶
Reactions Los jaivas con el album alturas de Machu
Wow man completely off topic but what happened to the long hair you look like me now lol just joking though always good to see you
Shaved it off. Wasn't exactly what my intentions but as a side note it'll make this summer heat a little more bearable.
@@CriticalReactions I totally get it Brian I've got a super long goatee I screwed up and shaved off so many times mustache too I shave my head because it's a brillo pad and hurts if I don't it looks good man just quite a big change that took me by surprise
i miss your hair 😄
Same, but luckily I'm a quick grower. This time next year it'll be by my shoulders.
You cut the hair, noooooo!
It'll grow back fast. My old hair was only 3 years of growth 😅