Gary Bartz / Jean Carn / Norman Connors With The Starship Orchestra: A Tribute to Pharoah Sanders
Gary Bartz [Saxophone]
Jean Carn [Vocals]
Norman Connors [Vocals & Drums]
Eddie Baccus Jr. [Saxophone]
Known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multi-phonic techniques on the saxophone, as well as his use of “sheets of sound”, American jazz musician Pharaoh Sanders played a prominent role in the development of free jazz and spiritual jazz through his work as a member of John Coltrane’s groups in the mid-1960s, and later through his solo work. He released over thirty albums as a leader and collaborated extensively with vocalist Leon Thomas and pianist Alice Coltrane, among many others. Fellow saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as “probably the best tenor player in the world”. Most of Sanders’ best-selling work was made in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Impulse Records, including the 30-minute wave-on-wave of free jazz “The Creator Has a Master Plan” from the album Karma.
A native of Baltimore, Gary Bartz has been known to many as a trail blazer in the music business from the moment he started playing with Art Blakey at his father’s jazz club in his hometown to his own music throughout the 57 years as a professional musician. As if his Grammy Award with McCoy Tyner in 2005 (‘Illuminations’) wasn’t enough to carve out a place for Bartz in the jazz genre, he has broken the mold with more than 40 solo albums and over 200 as a guest artist.
Drummer and producer Norman Connors’ work has become a main staple of jazz-fusion, with tracks including “Mother Of The Future” from album “Slew Foot” (1974), “Captain Connors” from album “This Is Your Life” (1977), “You Are My Starship” (1976) album, et al. He has lead jazz recordings with Carlos Garnett, Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Herbie Hancock.
Jean Carn began her recording career with her then-husband, pianist Doug Carn, founder of Black Jazz Records and had an astounding five octave voice range. She sang background for artists including the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire and Norman Connors, but in 1977, she debuted solo, playing a crucial role in the golden era of Philly soul.
Keystone Kards not applicable for this show.
