The saxophonist and composer accompanied John Coltrane in the 1960s, before leaving a long solo career. He died on September 24 at the age of 81.
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Saxophonist and composer born in Little Rock (Arkansas), October 13, 1940, Farrell Sanders, known as “Pharoah” Sanders, died in Los Angeles on September 24. Coincidence: John Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926. Why, under this quasi-anniversary, summon the name of Coltrane so early?
Because they have in common this deep south marked by the racism of the United States? Because they both overlap the tenor saxophone? Because they repel the tenor, by spiritual fever, in the least of his entrenchments? Without throwing nothing: neither the spins of the suraigus, nor the stridents of the treble, nor the raucous of the bass, nor this vibrato to the tunes of “barrel flatulence” (rabelais), nor the extraordinary musicality of which the tenor saxophone reveals itself , without his inventor, Adolphe Sax (1814-1884), capable?
No: Jazz is a pass. It is the music of mothers, transmitted by voice and harmonium. The desecration of love of mothers’ music (Rhythm’n’Blues for the use of blacks); its charming disfigurement by bourgeois taste (rock); Its ontological rebellion always renewed, one of the most notable steps being crossed by steps (Giant Steps dates from 1960) by John Coltrane. Which makes all kinds of assists – at Archie Shepp, Marion Brown, Pharoah Sanders, etc. -, while philosophizing with Sonny Rollins, while a small people with short ideas poorly fantasy in rivals, jealous, enemies. Deep mysteries of friendship.
Let’s take over: In 1957, Farrell Sanders played church, college, and in the gentle, in the groups of Rhythm’n’Blues. The same year, his hometown was the scene of one of the Historical Apartheid defeats: nine African-American students enter the world most legally in high school (“white”, as they dare to say), where they are admitted . This right has been registered in law for three years, but, in front of so much hatred in the city, the “nine of Little Rock” can only enter the protection of the guard. The Governor of Arkansas, Faubus, refuses this right to “nine of Little Rock”. This right displeases him. His friends from Ku Klux Klan get involved. President Eisenhower is forced to have the troop gave. Planetary scandal. Photo at the “one” from France evening. In 1957, Farrell Sanders was 17 years old. Why, while braiding his legend, do we take this decisive event so little?
A few months later, the mother’s harmonium for spiritual harmonies, and the Little Rock scandal for music theory, the young Sanders leaves for San Francisco. He caches in Rhythm’n’Blues, he’s his lot, but listens for real Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane.
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