Pharoah Sanders: Thembi-1971 ABC/impulse 1st Edition Gatefold 33RPM Stereo LP

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Used 1971 ABC/impulse! 1st Edition Gatefold Stereo Release by Bandleader/Composer/Tenor Saxophonist/Multi-Instrumentalist Pharoah Sanders Entitled Thembi, Produced by Ed Michel and Bill Szymczyk, Engineering by Bill Szymczyk with Assistance from Lillian Douma - "Recorded with two different ensembles, Thembi was a departure from the slowly developing, side-long, mantra-like grooves Pharoah Sanders had been pursuing for most of his solo career. It's musically all over the map but, even if it lacks the same consistency of mood as many of Sanders' previous albums, it does offer an intriguingly wide range of relatively concise ideas, making it something of an anomaly inSanders' prime period. Over the six selections, Sanders romps through a tremendous variety of instruments, including tenor, soprano, alto flute, fifes, the African bailophone, assorted small percussion, and even a cow horn. Perhaps because he's preoccupied elsewhere, there's relatively little of his trademark tenor screaming, limited mostly to the thunderous cacophony of "Red, Black & Green" and portions of "Morning Prayer." The compositions, too, try all sorts of different things. Keyboardist/pianist Lonnie Liston Smith's "Astral Traveling" is a shimmering, pastoral piece centered around his electric piano textures; "Love" is an intense, five-minute bass solo by Cecil McBee; and "Morning Prayer" and "Bailophone Dance" (which are segued together) add an expanded percussion section devoted exclusively to African instruments. If there's a unifying factor, it's the classic title track, which combines the softer lyricism of Sanders' soprano and Michael White's violin with the polyrhythmic grooves of the most Africanized material (not to mention a catchy bass riff). Some fans may gripe that Thembi isn't conceptually unified or intense enough, but it's rare to have this many different sides of Sanders coexisting in one place, and that's what makes the album such an interesting listen." - Extraordinary Personnel for the Sextet & Octet Features Living Legend Pharoah Sanders on Tenor and Soprano Saxes, Alto Flute, Bells, Percussion, Koto, Brass Bell, Bailophone, Maracas, Cow Horn and Fifes, Michael White on Violin & Percussion, the Multi-Talented Lonnie Liston Smith on Piano, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Claves, Ring Cymbals, Shouts, Bailophone and Percussion, the Brilliant Cecil McBee on Bass, Finger Cymbals, Percussion & Bird Effects, Clifford Jarvis on Drums, Maracas, Bells and Percussion, the Great Roy Haynes on Drums, James "Chief" Bey, Majid Shabazz, Anthony Wiles & Nat Bettis with African Percussion and James Jordan on Ring Cymbals! - Selections on Side One Are the Lonnie Liston Smith Penned Astral Traveling & Original Pharoah Sanders Compositions Red Black & Green at 8 Minutes 56 Seconds, the Title Track - Tracks for Side Two Are the Cecil McBee Penned Love, Pharaoh Sanders/Lonnie Liston Smith's Morning Prayer at 9 Minutes 11 Seconds and Original Pharaoh Sanders Composition Bailophone Dance - Used Copy, Cover Has a very Light Surface Ring, Record Very Good++ - Gatefold Sleeve, Stereo Recording, Product Code AS-9206 - California Residents Add 9.75% Sales Tax - International S & H Extra -