Sanders was John Coltrane’s front-line partner in the older man’s last years; Karma was his first release as a leader after Coltrane’s death. He had moved beyond the apocalyptic eruptions of 1965-67 to a more meditative spirituality; the 32-minute “The Creator Has a Master Plan” is a modal vamp featuring flute, French horn, percussion and of course Leon Thomas’s passionate, soulfully yodeling (yes, that’s a thing) vocals. Sanders does deliver the paint-peeling solos he was famous for, but they’re integrated into the ensemble sound.

– Phil Freeman