Pharoah Sanders Quartet - Ballads With Love (2010)

Known for his harsh excursions into the avant-garde with John Coltrane in the late '60s, Pharoah Sanders is at his most appealing interpreting ballads, such as these 2002 sessions. Well accompanied by pianist William Henderson, bassist Charles Fambrough, and drummer Sherman Ferguson, Sanders offers a fluid interpretation of the nearly forgotten gem "Too Young to Go Steady," showcasing his warm tenor sax and Henderson's lush touch as well. His take of Anthony Newley's "Feelin' Good" shows Coltrane's influence on him, while Sanders gives this show tune a gospel flavor. One fascinating choice is Piero Piccioni's "Light at the Edge of the World," written for the film of the same name, a big-budget 1971 film starring Kirk Douglas that flopped at the box office; Sanders' decision to look for obscurities such as this gem pays off huge dividends, with his robust playing in a soft bossa nova setting and Henderson's shimmering piano glistening like the sun on the ocean. The arrangements of favorites like "Body and Soul," "In a Sentimental Mood," and "Misty" are also among Pharoah Sanders' best recorded performances. Recommended. -- Ken Dryden