Black Music Sunday: Celebrating Pharoah Sanders’ spirit of freedom

The late, great tenor saxophonist Farrell “Pharoah” Sanders, famed for his excursions into free jazz that evolved into spiritual jazz, was born on Oct. 30, 1940, in Little Rock, Arkansas. We mourned his passing at the age of 81 a little over two years ago in “Pharoah Sanders has joined the ancestors.”

His long musical career began in the 1960s. The Grammy Award-winning artist and NEA Jazz Master not only led his own group but was a sideman who played with many of our greatest jazz musicians, including John Coltrane. His free jazz and spiritual musical journeys will continue to entrance and inspire generations of new listeners. Join us today in paying tribute to his artistry.

”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over 230 stories covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.