Homage To Pharoah Sanders

Spiritual jazz, minimalism, and percussion: a Milan-based ensemble reinterprets the voice of Pharoah Sanders.

The Project in Brief
Eight musicians from the Milanese and Italian jazz scene pay tribute to Pharoah Sanders, the saxophonist who transformed jazz into a ritualistic experience. The concert coincides with the release of the vinyl record Homage To Pharoah, scheduled for January 2027 via Black Sweat Records (Milan).

Why Pharoah?
Born Ferrell Sanders, he was given the name “Pharoah” by Sun Ra during his brief stint in the Arkestra. At a very young age, he was recruited by John Coltrane to play alongside him during the final years of Coltrane’s career. From there, Sanders forged an unmistakable voice—a sound that ranges from prayer to a primal cry, capable of bridging the gap between free-jazz energy and mysticism. Tracks such as “The Creator Has A Master Plan” and “Astral Traveling” have become definitive manifestos of spiritual jazz.
In recent years, his music has reached a new audience well beyond the confines of jazz, thanks in part to Promises—a 2021 collaboration with electronic producer Floating Points and the London Symphony Orchestra. It served as his final work, hailed as a bridge between spiritual jazz, ambient music, and contemporary classical.
The Concert

Riccardo Luppi (tenor and soprano saxophone, flute) presents six original compositions, written and arranged specifically for this new ensemble. The repertoire engages in a dialogue with Sanders, connecting his legacy to other musical worlds. “Pharoah And Luigi” is dedicated, in part, to Luigi Bonafede, while “Five For Two PH And One ST” weaves his spirituality together with the repetitive structures of Philip Glass and Steve Reich. Alongside these original pieces, the set includes two iconic tracks by Sanders.
The ensemble features a distinctive element: an expanded rhythm section that incorporates tabla and dual percussion. This approach brings the circular, hypnotic, and collective dimension of that music back to the forefront.
The result is a concert that speaks to diverse audiences. It is accessible to those encountering jazz for the first time, offering an immersive, visceral listening experience. At the same time, it engages fans of electronic and experimental music—who will recognize affinities with ambient and minimalism—as well as those deeply familiar with the tradition of Coltrane and Sanders.

Lineup
Gathered around Riccardo Luppi is a group of musicians with long-standing careers in the Italian jazz and experimental music scenes, coming together in this specific formation for the first time.

Riccardo Luppi: tenor and soprano sax, flute • Alberto Mandarini: trumpet
Alessandro Castelli: trombone
Simone Quatrana: piano
Tito Mangialajo Rantzer: double bass • Cristiano Calcagnile: drums • Federico Sanesi: tabla and percussion • Filippo Monico: percussion
Program
Original compositions by Riccardo Luppi
Pharoah And Luigi
Fast Happiness For Pharoah • Five For Two PH And One ST • Ode To Pharoah
Six Eight For Pharoah
Slow Three Four For Pharoah
Pieces by Pharoah Sanders • Astral Traveling
The Creator Has A Master Plan

Record
Homage To Pharoah, vinyl, Black Sweat Records, release date: January 2027.

Projects

As a leader

As a sideman