How did a man of Morton’s considerable talents, a man who recognized the ways that popular music evolved and changed, a well-dressed dandy with all the canny instinct of a carny, come to end his days in this way? Did he really invent jazz, as the now-infamous business cards he carried claimed? What exactly is the truth behind this enigmatic and fascinating figure?
The more that you listen to Pharoah Sanders’ entire output, the more you realize that he was that rare natural musician who simply pulled what he was playing out of the wind.
As Bob Dylan publishes his book The Philosophy of Modern Song, it’s worth noting that he has been studying the work of other songwriters for much of his career.
