London Symphony Orchestra | 2021
Pharoah Sanders, who has spent the larger part of the last decade out of the public eye and who has not released any new music during that time, must have been shocked by the welcome that his latest performance is receiving. Jazz, electronic music, and classical music are all brought together in this piece that lasts for 46 minutes. DJ and composer Sam Shepherd (aka Floating Points) is able to successfully pull off an uncommon blend of musical styles. The highlight of this mesmerizing work is the piercing tenor saxophone solos played by Sanders. This piece has earned high accolades from everyone, even reviewers.
Synthesizers, piano, celeste, and harpsichord give the appearance that the music has a basic structure by repeatedly playing a captivating seven-note motif throughout almost the whole piece. This recalls the calming sound of waves lapping at the coast of an ocean. The motif is enveloped by shimmering electronica and hovers midway between the composition's forefront and background. The saxophone makes its entrance with a gentle solo that is quite evocative after a little introduction. Sanders has moved on from the free-jazz firestorms he created during his time with Coltrane, and he ultimately adopts a more bluesy and aggressive tone in his playing. The veteran, who is now 80 years old, hums to himself for the entirety of one scene, as is his routine.
It is the strings of the London Symphony Orchestra that are first heard playing in drawn-out, piercingly high notes. They begin the work in supporting roles, but by the sixth movement (there are a total of nine movements in this piece), they assume the position of the protagonists. Shepherd, a student of classical music, provides a climax for the orchestra that is suitably dramatic and fierce; the strings are more than just "sweeteners," as they are sometimes in crossover compositions.
The completed work is unlike anything else composed by Shepherd or, for that matter, by the vast majority of other musicians.
Traditional jazz fans may find the album's minimalist structure and complete absence of rhythm to be a touch uncomfortable, however, free thinkers may find the musical choices made on Promises to be rather audacious and embrace the record for its creative audacity. On the contrary, that is in no way the focus of this work; rather, it is more akin to spiritual electronica crossed with spiritual jazz. It could even bring the concept of "crossover" back into favor.
Unfortunately, after this release, on September 24, 2022, Pharoah Sanders died. He was 81 years old at the time and died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and fans, who feel pain as a result of this loss.