YUSEF LATEEF
The Blue Yusef Lateef
Label M
495724

The Blue Yusef Lateef was recorded in 1968, when multi-instrumentalists like Lateef and his labelmates Eddie Harris and Rahsaan Roland Kirk were viewed with great suspicion by the rest of the jazz world. All three of these unique artists were (and still are) widely accused of relying on ‘gimmicks’ to put their music across. Unlike Kirk, who could play three horns simultaneously; or Harris, who pioneered
the use of wind-driven electronics (among other things); Lateef’s transgressions against jazz orthodoxy came primarily from his attempts to bring exotic musical instruments and styles into a jazz context (or vice versa). Now that ‘world music’ sections can be found in every CD store and anyone can get a glimpse of the sound and feeling of music from other cultures, Lateef’s contributions can now be viewed panoramically, albeit in hindsight.

The Blue Yusef Lateef feels like a primer: each track is a chapter in a world history of blues that
encompasses slave chants ("Juba Juba"), pan-Asian ‘Mekong Delta’ blues ("Moon Cup"), European Classical blues ("Like It Is"), and the twelve bar form most familiar to us ("Othelia"). Lateef ties things
together nicely with the odd metered funk of "Get Over…," while "Six Miles Next Door" and "Sun Dog" are both twelve bar blues with a decidedly loose ‘soul jazz’ feel. "Back Home," on the other hand, has a
menacing ‘crime jazz’ feel to it. Lateef’s shenai solo here is a real delight since the untempered Indian double-reed is the last thing you’d expect to hear – though it fits in perfectly. Aside from Lateef – whose tenor has a broad, juicy, pre-bop roadhouse flavor to it – harmonica player Buddy Lucas and guitarist Kenny Burrell are the only other players who get any substantial soloing in.

The Blue Yusef Lateef is surprisingly fresh for a 33-year-old recording. Though it has some slightly
weird 60s kitschy moments (the vocals could have come from an Esquivel session), the main thing that comes through is the music’s inherent wit, charm and warmth. Another worthwhile reissue for Label M, and a fun CD that rewards repeated listening.

Dave Wayne

Track Listing: 1. Juba Juba; 2. Like It Is; 3. Othelia; 4. Moon Cup; 5. Back Home; 6. Get Over, Get Off, and Get On; 7. Six Miles Next Door; 8. Sun Dog

Personnel: Lateef, tenor sax, flutes, shenai, tamboura, koto, voice, percussion; Sonny Red, alto
sax (5); Blue Mitchell, trumpet (5, 7, 8); Buddy Lucas, harmonica (1, 3, 5, 6); Kenny Burrell, guitar
(7, 8); Hugh Lawson, piano; Cecil McBee, bass; Bob Cranshaw, Fender bass; Roy Brooks, drums, The Sweet Inspirations, vocals (1, 5); String Quartet (2)