Label: Savoy
Audio CD: (May 3, 1994)
Jazz
Anyone familiar with the many impassioned and atmospheric performances committed to tape by Yusef Lateef in the late 1950s should be delighted by this set, especially as it's so difficult to lay hands on(It took me the better part of a year!). Composed entirely of original compositions, JAZZ MOODS offers a fine, well-balanced look at the state of Lateef's groundbreaking fusion of jazz and world music a few short months after its inception; but it is also a classic fifties post-bop session by one of the most underrated reedsmen of his generation. Great stuff!
"Metaphor" starts the program off beautifully with a haunting flute performance well offset by a generous helping of reverb. "The Beginning" highlights Lateef's skill at transforming fairly simple motifs into inspired and dramatic musical events. The real highlight, however, is the ten-minute-plus "Morning," featuring one of Lateef's greatest tenor saxophone workouts over a majestically restrained backing. If jazz balladry gets any better than this, I certainly haven't heard the proof.
While Savoy has promised to reissue JAZZ MOODS as part of a companion compilation to 2000's THE LAST SAVOY SESSIONS, no such package has yet materialized. Until it does, this disc is a more than worthwhile purchase for any post-bop enthusiast; grab it if you can.
By Richard B. Luhrs.
**
Yusef Lateef recorded 6 LPs for the Savoy label in 1957 and 1959; this is the first one issued. Lateef and his group were playing in Detroit at the time, and they would drive into NY, record a slew of sides (sometimes for competing labels), and then hightail it back to Detroit again. He wasn't offered a club appearance in NYC until 1959.
Yusef was pretty much a mainstream modern player when these recordings were made, though occasionally he would try something "experimental" (usually involving an incorporation of ethnic music into his program). Flute was his only other axe besides his tenor, and he plays it once here, on METAPHOR. Better is his tenor work - for example, on the medium blues YUSEF'S MOOD. Lateef is an excellent blues player, sticking to the lower register to great effect. MORNING and THE BEGINNING both are based on repeated one-note patterns, with the latter piece being slightly better. Curtis Fuller is on trombone and brings with him his characteristic muddy tone. Hugh Lawson is excellent on piano. A good CD, worth checking out.
By Bomojaz.
**
Yusef Lateef- Flute, Tenor Sax, Scraper, Argol
Curtis Fuller- Trombone
Hugh Lawson- Piano
Ernie Farrow- Bass
Louis Hayes- Drums
Doug Watkins- Percussion
**
01. Metaphor (Lateef) 8:08
02. Yusef's Mood (Lateef) 8:35
03. The Beginning (Lateef) 4:12
04. Morning (Lateef) 10:38
05. Blues In Space (Lateef) 7:07
**
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