Pharoah Sanders, Whose Saxophone Was a Force of Nature, Dies at 81
""His music was expansive and open-ended, concentrating on immersive
group interaction rather than solos, and incorporating African
percussion and flutes. In the liner notes to “Karma,” the poet,
playwright and activist Amiri Baraka wrote, “Pharoah has become one long
song.” The 32-minute “The Creator Has a Master Plan” moves between
pastoral ease — with a rolling two-chord vamp and a reassuring message
sung by Leon Thomas — and squalling, frenetic outbursts, but portions of
it found FM radio airplay beyond jazz stations."
read obit by JON PARELES