Album Details

• Artist: Pharoah Sanders
• Album: Finest
• Label: Dopeness Galore
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2008-03-17

A fairly subdued set from Pharaoh Sanders on this rare release, but kudos to the diggers at Dopeness for finding and compiling these mid 80's tracks that show the mast still more than capable of sailing into the mystic, albeit here within more traditional structures.

Sanders recorded three records for Dutch label Timeless, and Finest collects a sampling of the better tracks from that trio.

Flashes of his genius are here, from the sweet "Origin" and "You don't Know What Love Is" to more fiery, exploratory workouts like "Duo." A cover of Coltrane's "Naima" falls just a little flat, as do most covers of Saint John. Still, Sanders' tenor is a voice clean and proud, and with help here and there from pianist William Henderson, none of the eleven tracks here mar his legacy. It is just that the arrangements are more inside, and the playing a bit less than revelatory. In that sense, "Finest" may be a misleading title, but it is in the end a fine peek at an obscure period in Pharaoh Sanders' career, so it is welcome.

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