PHAROAH SANDERS - Meditation (Pharoah Sanders Selections Take 1 & 2) 2xCD (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although Pharoah Sanders first made his name in the free jazz scene of early-'60s New York and then by playing with John Coltrane in his most radical lineup, the saxophonist has never been merely a harsh, aggressive player. Meditation: Pharoah Sanders Selections, Take 1 does Sanders a great service by introducing the uninitiated to his work through music that is accessible and at times downright pretty without watering down his often-astonishing melodic freedom. 1970's "Thembi" marries an African rhythm to Sanders' graceful soprano sax and a fluid lead violin line by Michael White. "Morning Prayer," from the same sessions, has a hypnotic feel rooted in its polyrhythmic hand percussion (courtesy of Lonnie Liston Smith and a four-man team of African percussionists) and features an outstanding set of solos by Sanders on alto flute. "Colors" suffers a bit from being taken out of its original context as the becalmed coda to 1969's epic "The Creator Has a Master Plan," but Leon Thomas' incantatory vocal still has an eerie power. Finally, the epic 15-minute "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah" has the ecstatic frenzy of a classic Sun Ra Arkestra side and the cockeyed grace of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's best work, blended with perhaps Thomas' finest vocal ever, mixing the staid cadences of a four-square preacher with some defiantly outside ululations. Besides the album's four other tracks (which include 1971's rare "Mansion Worlds," a fairly traditional piece of modal jazz making its CD debut), these tracks alone are evidence of Sanders' abiding spirituality and restless creative spirit, making Meditation: Pharoah Sanders Selections, Take 1 a perfect introduction to the man and his work. Stewart Mason  
Meditation - Pharoah Sanders Selections Take 1 -
1.    Greeting To Saud 4'06
Percussion – Jimmy Hopps, Kenneth Nash, Lawrence Killian, Michael Carvin, Pharoah Sanders
Piano – Joe Bonner
Tambora – Calvin Hill
Violin – Michael White
Vocals – Sedatrius Brown
2.    Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum Allah 05'05
Drums – Roy Haynes
Drums, Percussion – Idris Muhammad
Flute, Thumb Piano, Percussion – Lonnie Liston Smith
Percussion – Cecil McBee
Tenor Saxophone, Contrabass Clarinet, Flute, Thumb Piano, Chimes, Percussion – Pharoah Sanders
Vocals, Percussion – Leon Thomas
3.    Mansion Worlds 9'14
Bass – Cecil McBee, Stanley Clarke
Drums – Norman Connors
Flute – Art Webb
Piano – Joe Bonner
Soprano Saxophone, Vocals, Percussion – Pharoah Sanders
4.    The Gathering 13'53
Bass – Calvin Hill
Congas, Bell Tree – Lawrence Killian
Drums – Michael Carvin
Percussion – John Blue
Piano, Flute, Horn, Vocals, Percussion – Joe Bonner
Sopranino Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Percussion – Pharoah Sanders
5.    Morning Prayer 9'12
Bass, Effects – Cecil McBee
Percussion – Anthony Wiles, Chief Bey, Majid Shabazz, Nat Bettis
Piano, Finger Cymbals, Thumb Piano – Lonnie Liston Smith
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Flute, Handbell, Thumb Piano, Maracas, Fife – Pharoah Sanders
6.    Thembi 7'02
Bass, Finger Cymbals, Percussion – Cecil McBee
Drums, Maracas, Bells, Percussion – Clifford Jarvis
Finger Cymbals – James Jordan
Piano, Electric Piano, Claves, Percussion – Lonnie Liston Smith
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Bells, Percussion – Pharoah Sanders
Violin, Percussion – Michael White
7.    Memories Of Lee Morgan 5'37
Bass – Cecil McBee, Stanley Clarke
Congas, Percussion – Lawrence Killian
Drums – Norman Connors
Percussion – Hannibal (Marvin Peterson)
Piano, Flute, Percussion – Joe Bonner
Sopranino Saxophone, Vocals, Percussion, Bells – Pharoah Sanders
8.    Colors 5'38
Bass – Reggie Workman, Ron Carter
Drums – Freddie Waits
French Horn – Julius Watkins
Piano – Lonnie Liston Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Pharoah Sanders
Vocals, Percussion – Leon Thomas
Meditation - Pharoah Sanders Selections Take 2 -
1    Shukuru 5'49
2    Rejoice 12'45
3    Pharomba 4'35
4    Origin 5'44
5    Naima 7'31
6    Sun Song 6'05
7    Think About The One 4'18
8    Midnight At Yoshi's 6'00
9    You Got To Have Freedom 6'51
10    Heart Is A Melody Of Time 7'34
11    Light At The Edge Of The World 5'09