Africa (Pharoah Sanders album)

Africa
Africa
Studio album by Pharoah Sanders
Released	1987
Recorded	March 11, 1987
Studio	Studio 44, Monster, Netherlands
Genre	Jazz
Length	56:59
Label	Timeless SJP 253
Producer	Wim Wigt
Pharoah Sanders chronology

Africa is an album led by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders recorded in 1987 and released on the Dutch Timeless label.^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	^[3]
Tom Hull – on the Web	A−^[4]

In his review for AllMusic, Steve Loewy commented: "Most will probably prefer the original Coltrane to Sanders' imitations, but Africa is nonetheless a joyous and worthy tribute to one of the giants of jazz. This album marked somewhat of a backtrack for the saxophonist, as he had frequently become identified with much more traditional playing".^[2]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the recording "Lovely, lovely stuff," and noted the "change of label and... deliciously stripped-down personnel." They stated that Lundy "fits in with Hicks like jigsaw pieces, a rich, contoured sound that prompts the wonder that Sanders ever wants to work in any other context."^[3]

Matt Fripp of Jazz Fuel included the album in his selection of "Ten Iconic Pharoah Sanders Albums," and wrote: "Sanders is able to tame the wilder musical excesses of his youth in favour of a simple, melodically inspired approach."^[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Pharoah Sanders except as indicated

"You've Got to Have Freedom" – 10:01
"Naima" (John Coltrane) – 5:26
"Origin" – 6:50
"Speak Low" (Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash) – 8:04
"After The Morning" (John Hicks) – 6:29
"Africa" – 8:20
"Heart to Heart" – 7:17 Bonus track on CD & Music On Vinyl reissue^[6]
"Duo" – 4:32 Bonus track on CD & Music On Vinyl reissue^[6]

Personnel

References

^ Pharoah Sanders discography accessed January 15, 2015
^ ^a ^b Loewy, Steve. Africa – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1998). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. p. 1333.
^ Hull, Tom. "John Hicks". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
^ Fripp, Matt (September 2, 2022). "Ten Iconic Pharoah Sanders Albums". Jazz Fuel. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Pharoah Sanders, John Hicks, Curtis Lundy & Idris Muhammad - Africa (2LP)". Funky Duck Vinyl. Retrieved 11 March 2023.

[1] Pharoah Sanders discography accessed January 15, 2015

[Allmusic-2] Loewy, Steve. Africa – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2015.

[Penguin-3] Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1998). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. p. 1333.

[4] Hull, Tom. "John Hicks". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved October 17, 2022.

[5] Fripp, Matt (September 2, 2022). "Ten Iconic Pharoah Sanders Albums". Jazz Fuel. Retrieved October 17, 2022.

[Africa_-_MOV_Reissue-6] "Pharoah Sanders, John Hicks, Curtis Lundy & Idris Muhammad - Africa (2LP)". Funky Duck Vinyl. Retrieved 11 March 2023.

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