American jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist Pharoah Sanders (born Farrell Sanders) was a pivotal figure in the development of free jazz and spiritual jazz during the 1960s and beyond. Known for his powerful, often avant-garde saxophone playing, he collaborated extensively with John Coltrane and carved out a distinctive sound characterized by extended techniques, overblowing, and a deep spiritual intensity. His influential career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of modern jazz.