And now it's RIP Yusef Lateef

[Alyn_Shipton]

The multi-instrumentalist died yesteday aged 93.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

The multi-instrumentalist died yesteday aged 93.

I supose to be expected given his age but a great player who I have enjoyed over very many years.

BN.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Christmas is unusually tough in its annual cull this year ..

oboe and swirling rhythms

[Ian Thumwood]

Yusef Latef played at Vienne this year which was pretty remarkable. Unfortunately the freely improvised set with Ahmed Jamal was all owl hoots and tiny percussion instruments and not too good. It got rained off about about 30 mins.

Two things stick in my mind about Yusef Latef. The first was that my piano teacher had a book of his exot5ic scales. We tend to forget the role than jazz musicians play in education and I believe Latef's was significant.

The other memory is hearing him perform with the Belomondo brother's orchestra at Vienne in 2006. This was when they presented music from the album "Influence." Having no preconseption of these French jazz musicians I expected that they might be a distraction to the American. As it turned out, the writing by the brothers, Christophe Del Sasso and Latef was exceptional and I was knocked out by the music. This is one of the best concerts I've been to and , thanks to Youtube, it is now possible to enjoy again....

I am sure there will be many who will share my enthusiasm for this wonderful music.

[eighthobstruction]

RIP.... bought a real dud in 70's when I used to go into Revolver Records in Bristol and just take pot luck of new releases....

[Ian Thumwood]

...and picking up on the other thread about the influence of Duke....

I think this music is absolutely terrific. Latef was one of the greats and the meetin with the 2 brothers as amazing piece of fortune.

[Tenor Freak]

I am sick to death of these RIP threads...I know about the circle of life and all that but I do wish my heroes wouldn't keep dying off like this

I'll remember this:

[Dave2002]

He appears to have done rather more than I knew about - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusef_Lateef

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

yes Dave2002 i always felt he was one of the less sung heroes of the art of jazz ...... and yet a highly capable innovative and thoughtful musician ...

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Listened to" Live at Peps" on Spanish radio over Christmas....glorious stuff and a great band. James Black on drums, N.O. giant and leg-end. "Yusef tried to save me but too late for that!"

BN.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

a touching memoir of Yusef Lateef on NPR

[burning dog]

yes Dave2002 i always felt he was one of the less sung heroes of the art of jazz ...... and yet a highly capable innovative and thoughtful musician ...

I agree Calum, probably not enough were directly influenced by him for him to be lauded as much as he deserved. He was an outstanding and original voice who could refresh the most workaday setting

Eastern Sounds
The entire album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKGnMSYbnJ0

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I agree Calum, probably not enough were directly influenced by him for him to be lauded as much as he deserved. He was an outstanding and original voice who could refresh the most workaday setting

Eastern Sounds
The entire album
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKGnMSYbnJ0

I think you will find a lot of the players who came out of Detroit were in awe of him as a player educator and mentor. Very highly respected for his integrity and example. And being a good friend when the chips were down. Charles Mcpherson is good on all this.

BN.

[burning dog]

I think you will find a lot of the players who came out of Detroit were in awe of him as a player educator and mentor. Very highly respected for his integrity and example. And being a good friend when the chips were down. Charles Mcpherson is good on all this.

BN.

I'm not surprised by that, he didn't' seem to have many "copyists" though which is how lazy Jazz journalism tends to be written