JAZZ REVIEW : Pharoah Sanders, Friends Offer an Exuberant Treat

The healing power that can sometimes be found in music was demonstrated Wednesday as tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders took the stage at Catalina, offering an exuberant musical balm that, in at least a small way, counteracted the anxiety lingering from Monday’s earthquake.

Working in the unique and appealing style that he developed in the early ‘70s, Sanders played three lengthy, compelling selections that blended the expressiveness of free improvisation with the lush tunefulness of strong melody.

Delivering his tunes with an alternately gleaming and gritty tone, the saxophonist was backed with elan and passion by pianist William Henderson, bassist Jeffrey Littleton and drummer Ralph Penland.

John Coltrane’s “Ole” exemplified the Sanders’ jazz approach. After a tender, rhapsodic, unaccompanied introduction by Henderson, Sanders led his cohorts into the tune, which sported a driving waltz beat.

As Henderson and Littleton played a repeating figure that anchored “Ole,” and Penland banged and bashed his drum set, creating a rhythmic boil, Sanders began to solo. He delivered stretched-out high notes and passages juxtaposing two notes so rapidly they formed a third, as well as captivating swirls of melodies and high shrieks composed of two or three notes played simultaneously.

The solid platform provided by the rhythm team made Sanders’ already evocative performance even more so.

The often-electrifying, yet ultimately soothing Sanders closes Sunday.