Sanders, Pharoah – ???Elevation??? – [Verve]

Pharoah Sanders said of himself as recently as 2006, “When you reach a spiritual level you become the instrument yourself.???* Listening to the reissue of 1973???s ???Elevation,??? one understands this point, strong and solid.

???Elevation??? soars and swoops and rests within the holy madness of Sander???s tenor sax. The album offers a message to all moods; a sacred wine, a hospice. For instance:

??? ???Elevation??? (Track 1- 18:00), the title track, envelops the body whole within the pain and joy of creation. Inescapable. A frenzied metaphoric speaking in tongues. No church walls. Only boundless possibilities. Only forever.

??? ???Greeting to Saud??? (Track 2- 4:07), the next track, comes gently. Kindly. Quietly respecting the expansion, the release, the suffering of soul. This song offers rest for the weary.

One more bit: Sun Ra bequeathed the name Pharoah on Farrell Sanders.
*(The above quote from the San Francisco Chronicle 4/19/06)