1971 JP Pharoah Sanders “Thembi” on Impulse!

I mean, if you’re a wise record exec in the early 70s, you locate Pharoah, surround him with instruments, surround those instruments with genius sidemen, and roll tape. Done. Pharoah spirituals his way through alto, flute, tenor, fifes, koto, brass bell, Balophone, cow horn, and maracas. Needing a few additional tasks, he writes two of the six songs and also dabbles in a bit of percussion. The MIGHTY Cecil McBee plays bass and is credited with “bird effects”, while Lonnie Liston Smith credited as “LL” pens a few tracks and gets heavy with the Rhodes. Michael “Neuma” White is on violin, Clifford Jarvis on drums and Shango priest Chief Bey on percussion. The album title is Pharoah’s wife’s nickname, Nomathemba, who is South African and that fact alone can be seen as a major influence on the music and can be heard between the beats. There is CAPE in the house, but also adoration and delicate communication. Of course, bird calls are all lovely and meditative, but Mr. Sanders being Mr. Sanders, we also get HEAVY avant blowing as needed. Forget that recommended angioplasty, just spin “Red, Black, and Green” a few times. This record is, in the end, an examination of velocity, momentum, spirituality, poetry, and pure consciousness. TOP SATURDAY ACTION. Also every day action. Also there are no days.