Jazz musician Pharoah Sanders has died

He was 81 years old.

American jazz musician Pharoah Sanders passed away peacefully on September 24th, 2022. The news was confirmed by David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label, responsible for releasing Sanders’ collaborative album with Floating Points and The London Symphony Orchestra back in 2020.

“We are devastated to share that Pharoah Sanders has passed away. He died peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends in Los Angeles earlier this morning. Always and forever the most beautiful human being, may he rest in peace.” expressed the label.

Ferrell Sanders was born in 1940, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he began his career as a tenor saxophonist in Oakland before making the move to New York in 1961, where he befriended jazz icon Sun Ra, who gave him the name “Pharoah”.

From 1965 until 1967, Pharoah Sanders was a part of John Coltrane’s band, touring and recording with him on numerous albums before Coltrane died from cancer.

Sanders’ latest album was ‘Promises’, which was recorded in collaboration with Floating Points and The London Symphony Orchestra. Initially, Sanders reached out to Floating Points after being captivated by his ‘Elaenia’ album. ‘Promises’ was recorded in Los Angeles, in 2019, signaling Sanders’ first album in almost twenty years.

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