Yusdsuf Lateef

An innovator in mixing world music influences into jazz, there was considerable demand for Yusef Lateef's many recordings of the late 1950s and early 1960s that reflected his fascination with all things Asian; "Eastern Sounds" from 1961 is one of the multi-instrumental pioneer's best sellers. A stellar studio band helps Lateef realize his one-world vision of a music that knows neither stylistic boundaries nor expressive limitations.

With 20 years passing since his first foray into recorded jazz, Nat Birchall now ranks as one of the premier saxophonists of his generation. With several highly acclaimed albums in the locker, he now returns with his most ambitious project yet – a tribute to the legend that is Yusef Lateef.

Multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef mesmerizes with his 1972 release, "The Gentle Giant". His innovative style revolutionized the jazz scene. A mix of jazz with soul, the album showcases Lateef’s unmatched musicianship. Lateef performs numerous wind instruments on the album but the true highlight is his funky use of the flute. The stunning album includes an upbeat “Nubian Lady”, a groovy “Jungle Plum” and an inspired rendition of “Hey Jude”.

"In a Temple Garden" is an album by American multi-instrumentalist and composer Yusef Lateef recorded in 1979 and released on the CTI label. This is his second release for CTI. Album's music in whole is more or less what you can expect from CTI release coming from late 70s: smooth and soulful jazz, quite polished, in moments even close to new age, but enough professional to be listened without being totally disappointed.

Released in 1987, "Yusef Lateef’s Little Symphony" found the multi-instrumentalist incorporating riveting jazz improvisations throughout this exquisite four-movement work. Every soaring instrumentation found on the record is performed by Lateef including the water drum, percussive sitar, flutes, reeds, shannie, gourdophone and kalangu. In 1988, the album earned the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album despite having no prior association with new-age music.

Originally released in 1962, jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef’s “Eastern Sounds” fuses hard bop with middle eastern music as he is joined by Barry Harris on piano alongside Ernie Farrow (double bass, rabaab) and Lex Humphries (drums). This reissue features remastered audio from the original master tapes and is available on 192/24 hi res digital.

Yusef Lateefs Einbindung von Traditionen, Modi und Instrumenten Asiens in seine Musik hat beim Jazz-Publikum große Sympathien geweckt.

Cry! – Tender is an album by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef recorded in 1959 (with one track recorded in 1957) and released on the New Jazz label.

The Centaur and the Phoenix is an album by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef recorded in 1960 and released on the Riverside label.

Into Something is an album by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef recorded in 1961 and released on the New Jazz label.