Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders has died

Pharoah Sanders is dead. The American saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist died on September 24, 2022 at the age of 81 at his home in Los Angeles, California. Sanders was considered one of the founders of free jazz.

His label Luka Bop confirmed the musician’s death in an official statement on the record company’s social media channels. “We are devastated that Pharoah Sanders has passed away. He died peacefully this morning surrounded by family and friends in Los Angeles. He was always and forever the most beautiful human being, may he rest in peace.”

A pioneer of free jazz

Pharoah Sanders, whose real name was Farrell Sanders, was born on October 13, 1940 in Little Rock, Arkansas. When he moved to California after graduating from high school, he was able to do what Jim Crow laws didn’t allow him to do in the southern states: he could perform in both black and white clubs. He later moved to New York City, where jazz legend Sun Ra let him live with him, saving him from homelessness. It was also Ra who gave him the name Pharoah.

In 1965, Sanders joined John Coltrane’s band, and shared a musical kinship with him. The two influenced each other – and were essential in the development of free jazz. The two Coltrane albums “Ascension” and “Meditations” were important, among other things, on which the two saxophonists explore atonality and the departure from conventional forms. Spirituality played a major role in his music, later African and Asian influences were added. Sanders even landed a real hit with his 1969 solo album Karma—even though the record only contained two songs—including the 32-minute “The Creator Has A Master Plan.

In 2021, Sanders, together with music producer Sam Shepherd, released his first album in almost 20 years – the long player “Promises”. “My wonderful friend passed away this morning. I am so fortunate to have known this man and we are all blessed that his art will stay with us forever. Thank you Pharoah,” Seperd wrote in a statement on Instagram.

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