Third album as a leader from saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. Karma was originally recorded in 1969 and is perhaps one of the most famous of the spiritual jazz albums to be released by Impulse!. The album is most memorable for the 32 minute long "The Creator Has a Master Plan," a piece composed by Sanders and vocalist Leon Thomas. It opens with a refrain that echos Sanders's mentor, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. In fact many see it as the sequel to the jazz giant's spiritual jazz opus. The music is laid back and accessible, bolstered by African percussion and the yodeling of Thomas. "The Creator Has A Master Plan" is split into two parts on side A and B (the 2nd part is also known as "Light of Love"), with shorter track "Colors" rounding out the B side. High-quality Acoustic Sounds edition cut from the original analog tapes, recommended.

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• Acoustic Sounds edition remastered from original analog tapes
• housed in tip-on gatefold sleeve w/ liner notes
• limited edition
• featuring Pharoah Sanders (t. sax), Leon Thomas (vox, perc), Lonnie Liston Smith (p), James Spaulding (flute), Julius Watkins (fr. horn), Reggie Workman (b), Ron Carter (b), Richard Davis (b), Frederick Waits (d), William Hart (d), Nathaniel Bettis (perc)
• original release year: 1969
• music label: Impulse! 2022

reviewed by Cool Hand 02/2016