Yusef Lateef blends Eastern and Western musical motifs…
Yusef Lateef – Eastern Sounds – OJC/Moodsville/Craft Recordings #CR 00615 – 180 gm vinyl remaster – 39:54 – 1961 – ****
(Yusef Lateef – tenor sax, oboe, flute; Barry Harris – piano; Ernie Farrow – bass and rabat; Lex Humphries – drums)
Yusef Lateef, known primarily for his tenor sax and flute mastery, had a life long fascination with both Near and Far Eastern musical styles, On his iconic 1961 LP release, Eastern Sounds, Yusef had the opportunity to use his skills to merge these influences. His label likely wanted some more commercial tracks to broaden the album’s appeal to the public. So two movie love themes (from the movies, Spartacus, and The Robe) were included, as was the standard, “Don’t Blame Me.” Not surprisingly, Lateef pulled off this feat with aplomb.
Over sixty years later, we now have the opportunity to hear this venture in remastered 180 gm vinyl glory, with lacquers cut from the original master tapes. Yusef was with his quartet with co-leader, pianist, Barry Harris, at the time. As always, Harris plays with elegance and taste, while their drummer, Lex Humphries, was a master with the brushes.
The addition of an oboe, as well as a Chinese flute add much to Yusef’s arsenal, adding an “Oriental” influence. The globular flute, Xun, is used on the opener, “The Plum Blossom,” with the effect being striking, and Barry Harris’ blues choruses fitting right in. “Snafu” is straight ahead tenor, with a strong Sonny Rollins feel. “The Love Theme from Spartacus,” and “The Love Theme from The Robe” are both lovely and ethereal, with Yusef’s oboe on the former, and his flute on the latter.
“Don’t Blame Me,” the standard, is sublime pure romanticism, especially with Harris’ piano solo. The highlight from the album may be “Blues From the Orient,” where Yusef’s oboe leading the rhythm section through several tempo changes, a great merging of Eastern motifs with American blues.
Those audiophiles with “big open ears” will love this re-release of one of Yusef Lateef’s seminal issues, still fresh six plus decades later.
—Jeff Krow
Yusef Lateef – Eastern Sounds
Tracklist:
Side A:
The Plum Blossom
Blues for the Orient
Chinq Miau
Don’t Blame Me
Side B:
Love Theme From Spartacus
Snafu
Purple Flower
Love Theme From The Robe
The Three Faces of Balal
More information through Craft Recordings
