Yusef Lateef Live At Pep's, Vol.2

Yusef Lateef - Live at Ronnie Scott's: January 15th 1966 (2016) {Gearbox Records RSGB1008CD}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 177 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 103 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1966, 2016 Ronnie Scott / Gearbox Records | RSGB1008CD
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Creative

I love the idea of Gearbox records, especially the Tubby Hayes & Don Rendell items, but have been put off in the past by the high vinyl retail price for what is often cassette sourced material (but do ensure you check out the Binker and Moses issue, they are sublime). This one, Lateef with Stan Tracey, Laird & Eyden, effectively the house rhythm section for Ronnie's, is a reel to reel tape made by Les Tomkins with the nod from Ronnie, but not the band. We are still nowhere near audiophile territory, but it is good enough to enjoy. Generally a laid back affair, it is nevertheless musically satisfying, with Stan Tracey a little receded in the mix, if you can apply the term, as this is pretty much a raw transfer by the sound of it. Lateef being front and centre though, on a combination of Flute, Shehnai, Xun and Tenor Sax, definitely helps.

Yusef Lateef - The Three Faces of Yusef Lateef (1960) {Riverside OJCCD-759-2 rel 2006}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 262 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2006 Riverside / Fantasy / Universal | OJCCD-759-2 / 00025218675925
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone / Oboe / Flute

On The Three Faces of Yusef Lateef, Riverside seems eager to present Yusef Lateef, technical virtuoso, on a series of songs that step closer to jazz tradition than any of his work in the recent past. Largely absent are Lateef's experiments with Eastern modes, rhythms, and instrumentation, and in their place is a collection of largely upbeat, accessible songs, with a balanced mix of standards and originals. Much of the introspective, personal quality of his previous albums seems lost in the effort, but Lateef's playing still remains stellar, especially on oboe.