Journey to the One

1980 studio album by Pharoah Sanders

Journey to the One

Studio album by

Pharoah Sanders

Released| 1980
Recorded| December 1979
Studio| San Francisco, CA
Genre| Jazz
Length| 72:00
Label| Theresa TR 108/109
Producer| Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders chronology
| Love Will Find a Way
(1977)  | Journey to the One
(1980)  | Beyond a Dream
(1981)

|
|

Journey to the One is a double album led by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, recorded in 1979 and released on the Theresa label.[1]

## Reception[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
Jazzwise| [5]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings| [3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide| [4]
Uncut| 7/10[6]

In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow commented: "As usual, Sanders shifts between spiritual peace and violent outbursts in his tenor solos".[2]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the music "strong, vibrant jazz," and wrote: "What's quickly apparent is that the gentler, more linear and melodic Sanders is not fundamentally different from the high-octane screamer, just differently modulated."[3]

Writing for Jazzwise, Kevin Le Gendre stated: "Backed by a formidable band, Sanders moves seamlessly from tenderness to aggression all the while creating a compelling narrative over the two discs."[5]

Chris May of All About Jazz included Journey to the One in his list of "Alternative Top Ten Albums," calling it "the album that introduced Sanders to a new generation of dancefloor-loving jazz neophytes."[7]

A writer for Billboard praised the album's "superb playing," and noted: "there is something here that transcends labels."[8]

## Track listing[edit]

All compositions by Pharoah Sanders except where noted

1. "Greetings to Idris" – 7:28
2. "Doktor Pitt" – 12:13
3. "Kazuko" – 8:07
4. "After the Rain" (John Coltrane) – 5:36
5. "Soledad" – 4:56
6. "You've Got to Have Freedom" – 6:48
7. "Yemenja" (John Hicks) – 5:35
8. "It's Easy to Remember" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) – 6:32
9. "Think About the One" – 4:15
10. "Bedria" – 10:30

## Personnel[edit]

* Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone, tambura, sleigh bells
* Eddie Henderson – flugelhorn (tracks 2 & 6)
* John Hicks – piano (tracks 1,2 6–8 & 10)
* Joe Bonner – piano, electric piano (track 4 & 9)
* Bedria Sanders – harmonium (track 5)
* Paul Arslanian – harmonium, wind chimes (track 3)
* Mark Isham – synthesizer (track 9)
* James Pomerantz – sitar (track 5)
* Yoko Ito Gates – koto (track 3)
* Chris Hayes (track 10), Carl Lockett (tracks 1,7 & 9) – guitar
* Ray Drummond (tracks 1,2, 6–8 & 10), Joy Julks (track 9) – bass
* Idris Muhammad (tracks 1,2, 6–8 & 10), Randy Merritt (track 9) – drums
* Phil Ford – tabla (track 5)
* Babatunde Lea – shekere, congas (track 9)
* Dee Dee Dickerson, Bobby McFerrin, Vicki Randle, Ngoh Spencer – vocals (tracks 6 & 9)
* Claudette Allen – vocals (track 9)

## References[edit]

1. ^ Pharoah Sanders discography accessed January 12, 2015
2. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. Journey to the One – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
3. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 1151.
4. ^ Swenson, John, ed. (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. p. 593.
5. ^ a b Le Gendre, Kevin. "Pharoah Sanders: Journey To The One". Jazzwise. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
6. ^ "How to Buy Pharoah Sanders". Uncut. November 2023. p. 69.
7. ^ May, Chris (December 10, 2020). "Pharoah Sanders: An Alternative Top Ten Albums To Feed Your Head". All About Jazz. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
8. ^ "Billboard's Recommended LPs". Billboard. November 15, 1980. p. 93.

* v
* t
* e

Pharoah Sanders

Albums|

* Pharoah's First (1964)
* Tauhid (1966)
* Izipho Zam (My Gifts) (1969)
* Karma (1969)
* Jewels of Thought (1969)
* Deaf Dumb Blind (Summun Bukmun Umyun) (1970)
* Thembi (1970–71)
* Black Unity (1971)
* Wisdom Through Music (1972)
* Village of the Pharoahs (1971–73)
* Live at the East (1972)
* Love in Us All (1972–73)
* Elevation (1973)
* Pharoah (1976)
* Journey to the One (1979)
* Pharoah Sanders Live... (1981)
* Rejoice (1981)
* Shukuru (1981)
* Heart Is a Melody (1982)
* Africa (1987)
* Oh Lord, Let Me Do No Wrong (1987)
* A Prayer Before Dawn (1987)
* Moon Child (1989)
* Welcome to Love (1990)
* Promises (2021)

* v
* t
* e

John Hicks

Years given are for the recording(s), not first release,
unless stated otherwise.

leader

co-leader|

* Hells Bells (1975)
* Steadfast (1975)
* After the Morning (West 54, 1979)
* Some Other Time (1981)
* John Hicks (1982)
* In Concert (1984)
* Inc. 1 (1985)
* Luminous (and Elise Wood, 1985–88)
* Two of a Kind (and Ray Drummond, 1986–87)
* I'll Give You Something to Remember Me By (1987)
* East Side Blues (1988)
* Naima's Love Song (1988)
* Oleo (New York Unit, 1989)
* Rhythm-a-Ning (and Kenny Barron, 1989)
* Blue Bossa (New York Unit, 1990)
* Is That So? (1990)
* Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Seven (1990)
* Power Trio (1990)
* St. Thomas: Tribute to Great Tenors (1991)
* Tribute to George Adams (1991–92)
* After the Morning (Dominic Sciscente Music, 1992)
* Blues March: Portrait of Art Blakey (1992)
* Crazy for You (1992)
* Friends Old and New (1992)
* Moanin': Portrait of Art Blakey (1992)
* Now's the Time (New York Unit, 1992)
* Over the Rainbow (New York Unit, 1992)
* Single Petal of a Rose (1992)
* The Missouri Connection (and Jay McShann, 1992)
* Beyond Expectations (1993)
* Lover Man: A Tribute to Billie Holiday (1993)
* Akari (New York Unit, 1994)
* Duality (and Peter Leitch, 1994)
* Gentle Rain (1994)
* In the Mix (1994)
* Heart Beats (Keystone Trio, 1995)
* Piece for My Peace (1995)
* Cry Me a River (1997)
* Newklear Music (Keystone Trio, 1997)
* Nightwind: An Erroll Garner Songbook (1997)
* Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook (1997)
* Trio + Strings (1997)
* Hicks Time (released 1998)
* Impressions of Mary Lou (1998)
* Beautiful Friendship (and Elise Wood, 2000)
* Music in the Key of Clark (2001)
* Fatha's Day: An Earl Hines Songbook (2003)
* Twogether (with Frank Morgan, 2005–6)
* I Remember You (2006)
* On the Wings of an Eagle (2006)
* Sweet Love of Mine (2006)

With
Art
Blakey|

* 'S Make It (and The Jazz Messengers, 1964)
* Soul Finger (and The Jazz Messengers, 1965)
* Hold On, I'm Coming (1966)
* Child's Dance (and The Jazz Messengers, 1972)

With
Arthur
Blythe|

* Illusions (1980)
* Blythe Spirit (1981)
* Blythe Byte (2001)
* Exhale (2002)

With
David
Murray|

* Morning Song (1983)
* Sketches of Tokyo (co-led, 1985)
* I Want to Talk About You (1986)
* Ming's Samba (1988)
* Ballads for Bass Clarinet (1991)
* David Murray/James Newton Quintet (1991)
* Fast Life (1991)
* MX (1992)
* For Aunt Louise (1993)
* Jazzosaurus Rex (1993)
* Love and Sorrow (1993)
* Saxmen (1993)
* Like a Kiss that Never Ends (2000)

With
Pharoah
Sanders|

* Journey to the One (1979)
* Pharoah Sanders Live... (1981)
* Rejoice (1981)
* Africa (1987)
* A Prayer Before Dawn (1987)

With
others|

* Solid! (Eric Alexander, 1998)
* Sunday in New York (Eric Alexander, 2005)
* Eby (Hamiet Bluiett, 1984)
* Fast Last! (Lester Bowie, 1974)
* Now It's My Turn (Betty Carter, 1976)
* The Audience with Betty Carter (1979)
* It's Not About the Melody (Betty Carter, 1992)
* Gardenias for Lady Day (James Carter, 2003)
* The Bassist: Homage to Diversity (Richard Davis, released 2001)
* Structurally Sound (Booker Ervin, 1966)
* Flying Colors (Ricky Ford, 1980)
* Interpretations (Ricky Ford, 1982)
* Awakening (Sonny Fortune, 1985)
* The Outside Within (Chico Freeman, 1978)
* Spirit Sensitive (Chico Freeman, 1978–79)
* Habana (Roy Hargrove, 1997)
* Again and Again (Oliver Lake, 1991)
* 52nd Street Themes (Joe Lovano, 1999)
* On This Day ... Live at The Vanguard (Joe Lovano, 2002)
* Streams of Expression (Joe Lovano, 2005)
* Hi Voltage (Hank Mobley, 1967)
* Taru (Lee Morgan, 1968)
* Staying on the Watch (Sonny Simmons, 1966)
* Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (Charles Tolliver, 1972)
* Love Remains (Bobby Watson, 1986)

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* MusicBrainz release group

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