"This is a glorious, jubilant performance that reminds us that Sanders was at his most effective communicator when he had an audience, like a righteous preacher feeling the spirit with the faithful."

Kevin Le Gendre - Jazzwise March Issue

UK VIBE REVIEW : Pharoah Sanders 'Live...' 2x180g Vinyl (Pure Pleasure) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993

Jazzwise Magazine / March Issue 2023

4* by Kevin Le Gendre

There are several notable concert recordings in the huge discography of the late Pharoah Sanders, above all the outstanding 1972 session Live At The East and the 1978 Montreux concert with Norman Connors. But this release, drawn from two West Coast gigs, one in Santa Cruz and the other in Los Angeles, makes it clear that in the following decade the saxophonist was still a force to be reckoned with anytime he took to the stage. Furthermore, his output at that point in his career really showed his command of many schools in black music, for if the nominal definition of Sanders was that of avant-garde titan than he was also a giant of the straightahead idiom.

Certainly, the distinctive earth-shattering shrieks and overtone explosions cohere brilliantly with the hard swinging bass and clattering ride cymbal beats of the anthem ‘You Gotta Have Freedom’, while the Afro-Brazillian thrust of ‘Pharomba’ is a reminder that Latin music was also a part of the goateed creator’s master plan. But if Sanders is on top form, blowing up a storm in his extended solos then his band, pianist John Hicks, bassist, Walter Booker and drummer Idris Muhammed, can make a credible claim to be one of the best quarters he ever led.

This is a glorious, jubilant performance that reminds us that Sanders was at his most effective communicator when he had an audience, like a righteous preacher feeling the spirit with the faithful. Kevin Le Gendre

Side D 1. Doktor Pitt (Bonus track not on original vinyl release)

Label: Theresa Cat No: TR 116

Re-mastering by: Cicely Baston at Air Mastering, London