Thembi cover
Released

Sanders worked with rock-oriented producers Ed Michel and Bill Szymczyk on this multifaceted album, which features short, relatively concise and melodic tracks compared to his other early ’70s work. The blissful opening track, “Astral Traveling,” became a favorite of acid jazz DJs in the ’90s. It’s not all calm, though; “Red, Black & Green” is a squalling explosion featuring multiple overdubbed Sanderses blasting away at each other as Lonnie Liston Smith hammers the piano to splinters.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Aihiyo cover

Aihiyo

Aihiyo
NOW cover

NOW

Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble
Translinear Light cover

Translinear Light

Alice Coltrane
Madres cover

Madres

Sofia Kourtesis
Bitches Brew cover

Bitches Brew

Miles Davis
Anthony Braxton cover

Anthony Braxton

Anthony Braxton
The Swiftest Traveler (Live) cover

The Swiftest Traveler (Live)

Barry Guy, Torben Snekkestad, Agustí Fernandez
Sung Tongs cover

Sung Tongs

Animal Collective
Karma cover

Karma

Pharoah Sanders
Wrong Way Up cover

Wrong Way Up

John Cale, Brian Eno