Do you think Pharoah Sander is a better saxophanist than John Coltrane?

I have worked with pharoah many times over the years i think he is probably the greatest, i think he has mastered all the skill of coltrane even the rythmic breathing, what do you think.

Sorry Sanders

I have two separate thoughts about your question...

1.Sometimes I think that Sanders is to Coltrane as Carl Jung is to Sigmund Freud. I'm not sure if that clears anything up.
2. Coltrane would surely be just as advanced if he were still alive today. At the time of Coltrane's passing, Sander's was just a student of Coltrane. I do think that Sanders is great. Its just not fair to compare the two because Sanders has a lot more time to develop. For these two musicians, developing is everything.

I absolutly agree with you Pharoah is one of the most beutifull players on plannet earth people associate him with coltrane but he has done a lot of beautifull work since then in all different styles he is an amazing blues player also, i love the work he has done with you, you are a beautifull sensative drummer, im a drummer and you are one of my favorites and i think you have got better and better over the years, thanks for the wonderfull questions you are asking.

I could name tons of people better than the both of them. John Coltrane was an innovator, just like bird. Neither or these two were great "saxophone" players. I hate saying that but there are far better saxophone players today than there was back in the day for main reason of there being more information readily availible for anyone to learn. I never listen to much pharoah or coltrane but I will list a least 5 people better and why

1. Micheal Brecker - His use of multiphonics on Naima on the Directions in Music cd. I heard this backstage at the Meyerhoff (concert hall in baltimore) live and it made me want to cry.

2. Joshua Redman - He has probably mastered the altissimo range of the horn.

3. Gary Thomas - The most underrated jazz legend still living. His style of playing is based off of cell system taking group of three notes, two intervals. Sounds like no other saxophonist. Ever.

4. Kenny Garrett - Angular best describes his playing. Songbook is one of those albums where there is not one bad track. When kenny goes outside, he goes and walks the dogs, goes to the market, plays a pick up game of basketball and comes back.

5. Me - Just kidding, I couldnt hold a cup of water next to any of these guys.

I think John Coltrane was a better sax player than Pharoah Sanders. But "The Creator Has A Master Plan" was the most moving song between the two for me. My Favorite players are Eddie Harris and Rashaan Roland Kirk.

Sorry, Idris - Pharoah sounds like noise compared to Trane. There is no way I could agree with you on this one. Nobody is better than Trane - the closest anyone got was Michael Brecker.