today i received from amazon a cd that i had been seeking for the last 12, 13 years. back then, i was hanging with my friend, mark. he decided he wanted to get into jazz. i don’t know what made him pick up this pharoah sanders cd, but he did. we got in his car & he popped it in.

it’s a live recording from 1982; the first song was a version of john coltrane’s “ole.” it was/is officially the most INTENSE thing i’ve ever heard.

1) see? INTENSITY IN TEN CITIES. from the very beginning. the original is great, but it’s got that smooth coltrane cool sound (in comparison, anyway). this is just barreling down at you and there’s no place to hide.

2) this is the first song, meaning it was the first song in the set (judging by the introduction on the actual disc). it’s damn near 20 minutes long on the cd. THAT’S YOUR OPENER?!? i know you’re pharoah sanders, but damn, homie.

3) the moment when sanders can’t express himself through his horn and he has to SCREAM THE MELODY is one of the….you know what? i can’t even explain it. but i remember feeling everything sanders was trying to convey, as i sat in mark’s isuzu trooper, transfixed by the sound, captivated by the realness. that tiny part in the song has haunted me for over a decade.

i’m thrilled that i have it now, but i’m not sure i’ll listen to it often. it peels the paint, man. this shit is for special occasions only. if i’m ever in a coma, please play this to bring me back, seriously. i’m serious - that’s what i want. print out this post & get it notarized.