Yusef Lateef, a true renaissance man…
Yusef Lateef – Atlantis Lullaby (The Concert from Avignon) – Elemental Music/ INA # 5990545 – Two 180 gm audiophile vinyls – Limited edition to 2950 pressings – Record Store Day release (04/20/24) – 07/19/72 recording – ****
(Yusef Lateef – soprano and tenor sax; Kenny Barron – piano; Bob Cunningham – bass; Albert “Tootie” Heath – drums, Indian flute on #B2)
To say that jazz artist, Yusef Lateef, was a well rounded renaissance man is a real understatement. In addition to having a recording career exceeding a half century (with over 100 albums/CDs as a leader and sideman, and 300 written compositions), Lateef was also an educator, painter, poet, novelist, and builder of bamboo flutes.
His kindness and respect for others is well documented, with Sonny Rollins referring to him as “a saint.” Before the term, “World Music,” was widely used to describe multi-ethnic music, Yusef had explored both Middle and Far Eastern motifs, incorporating them into his palette. His 1962 release, Eastern Sounds, is considered a classic today. He utilized the oboe, bassoon, and Eastern instruments, such as the koto, shanai, and bamboo flute into his repertoire.
To honor his memory and greatness, the “jazz detective,” Zev Feldman, in cooperation with Lateef’s estate, and the French INA Institute, is issuing a limited 2950 vinyl pressings of a July 19, 1972 recorded concert in Avignon, France. Yusef was on tour with his group (all noted top shelf artists) consisting of pianist, Kenny Barron, bassist Bob Cunningham, and drummer, Albert “Tootie” Heath. (Sadly, we just lost Heath just this past week.)
On the two albums (remastered from the original tape reels from ORTF Radio), the quartet plays seven compositions, with all but two, extended versions. Three were written by Kenny Barron, and one each from Lateef and Heath. Lateef detested the term, “jazz,” calling his music, “autophysiopsychic,” – truth thru music.
In his early 50s at the time this concert was recorded, the tracks show a firm grounding in the blues, with ventures into open avant-garde territory.
There is the straight ahead funky blues of “Yusef’s Mood,” with incredible stride piano by Barron; the gentle, introspective “A Flower” a flute/piano duo; as well as the wilder “Inside Atlantis”. For only the second time in his career, Lateef recorded the standard, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You.” It’s a deeply passionate version.
The second album ends with a 25+ minute Barron written track, “The Untitled,” with strong Eastern motif influences. It’s a wild ride, often times going “over the edge,” before returning to a more familiar jazz feel.
In addition to Barron and Lateef’s features, there is also some incredible arco bass from Bob Cunningham on “Eboness,” and we get to experience “Tootie” Heath blowing the Indian flute on “Lowland Lullaby” in a bass duet with Cunningham.
The sound restoration by Marc Doutrepont and the LP mastering by Matt Lutthans at The Mastering Lab are superb, You’d never guess that this was a radio recording.
It’s time to give Yusef Lateef his due. With less than 3000 copies being pressed, any slackers will need to wait till May for the CD version to be released. The gate fold LP issue should be your first choice as it includes an easier to read full size, eleven page booklet, with many testimonials to Lateef, from other jazz greats, including Sonny Rollins, Bennie Maupin, James Carter, and others, plus some beautiful archive quality photos.
Tracklist:
Side A: Inside Atlantis, A Flower
Side B: Yusef’s Mood, Lowland Lullaby
Side C: Eboness, I’m Getting Sentimental
Side D: The Untitled
—Jeff Krow
More Information through Record Store Day
