
25/03/2025
Announcing: The Harvest Time Experiment - A Tribute To Pharoah Sanders 🎷
Sanders’ performance at Jazz Middelheim in 1977 was a landmark moment in avant-garde jazz, capturing his artistic evolution. We proudly relive this standout event with a tribute featuring The Harvest Time Experiment, led by original guitarist Tisziji Muñoz and music director Joshua Abrams. The Harvest Time Experiment is an ever-evolving, live exploration that embodies Sanders’ fearless spirit, blending past and present to create something fresh and unexpected.
Back in 1977, as the second stop on a brief European tour following the release of his seminal album Pharoah, the original performance at Jazz Middelheim unveiled a deeply experimental and spiritually resonant side of Sanders. This album became one of Sanders’ most beloved works, its creative tensions only adding to its mystique and cult status.
For many European audiences, who knew him as the proverbial son of John Coltrane, his emergence as a bandleader was a striking departure from expectations. Though tied to Coltrane’s legacy, Sanders refused to inherit the mantle. His music had evolved from the free jazz “fire music” of the 1960s into a more spiritual, ambient sound—a continuation of the explorations hinted at in “Love Supreme” rather than the aggressive intensity of “Ascension” or “Sun Ship.”
During this historic show, Sanders and his ensemble—featuring otherworldly players such as Clifford Jarvis, Hayes Burnett (both with ties to Sun Ra’s band), and pianist Khalid Moss—revisited the track “Harvest Time”. The live rendition diverged significantly from the recorded version, showcasing the unpredictable and improvisational spirit. The recent remastering and reissue, bundled in a comprehensive box set by Luaka Bop in 2023, preserves that pivotal evening at Jazz Middelheim and stands as a lasting testament to Sanders’ enduring influence on the evolution of jazz.
These previously unpublished pictures from 1977 are taken by Rob Miseur, courtesy of Centro Studi A. Polillo - Siena Jazz.
The Harvest Time Experiment will perform at Park Den Brandt on Saturday June 7. More info: www.jazzmiddelheim.eu