Label: Savoy
Audio CD (July 24, 1994)
Recorded in New York on October 9-10, 1957
Jazz
A half-a-century following its original release, Prayer to the East by Yusef Lateef remains a seemingly blessed moment of creative interaction between American modern jazz and the music of the so-called Arab East, the latter evoked in essences ranging from snippets of traditional musical scales to picture postcards of Tunisian nightlife. The second half of the '50s was a busy period for Lateef, at that time under contract to the Savoy imprint. This album as well as three others were all cut in October of 1957, establishing as much documentation as could ever be needed of a transition from a player in the swing context of bandleaders such as Lucky Millinder and Hot Lips Page to a bold adventurer. Extended improvisations and the introduction of unusual instruments were important parts of this development and these recordings, yet the impression should not be one of austerity. Lateef's use of the flute turned out to be commercial, one of many instances of this particular axe finding more favor among the listening public than it tends to within the ranks of musicians themselves. Lateef and comrades may have been going for deep listening, still it is worth pointing out that an admirer of sides such as Prayer to the East pointed out how much fun him and his buddies used to have listening to this music while playing pool. The lengthy "Night in Tunisia" is nothing but a great moment in small modern jazz combo recordings, allowing Lateef's budding interest to bloom in an intriguing light. Flugelhornist Wilbur Harden was also a collaborator of John Coltrane's in the same period. The brassman dodges imitations of the song's composer, high-note trumpet maestro Dizzy Gillespie, instead hovering in his mid-register, revealing a joke in a turn of phrase as if he was being spied on. The album's title track comes from drummer Oliver Jackson, so tightly affiliated with swinging syncopation that his nickname was "Bops Junior." Later drummers working in Lateef's combos such as Frank Gant and of course Elvin Jones would introduce more polyrhythms, percolating a brew that by the end of the '50s had much less of the aroma of a mainstream cup of jazz. Some listeners may find, however, that a player such as Jackson creates more excitement, more workable dynamics, the tension of a stylistic clash that is inevitably hinted at rather than shouted. "Lover Man" may have been an overdone number in the jazz combo repertory even by 1957; the subsequent years would only redeem this particular performance were it more substantial. A formidable Lateef original and Les Baxter's "Love Dance" are the two concluding numbers, each in the six-minute range without a wasted moment in either case. The leader's improvisations are perfect, full of interesting choices of register, a man in motion who somehow masks his true dimensions.
By Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide.
**
This was Yusef Lateef's third album for Savoy, with Wilbur Harden on flugelhorn replacing Curtis Fuller, an original member of the group. Since his previous Savoy session six months earlier, Yusef has picked up a little trick with his flute playing: humming along with his blowing. He employs this on both flute tracks, CHECK BLUES and the title track.
The title track has a most interesting theme, and everyone gets a chance to solo on CHECK BLUES. NIGHT IN TUNISIA is a real wailer after getting the royal Tunisian treatment with gong and shennai (a double-reed instrument). LOVER MAN is done slowly and with great feeling by Yusef (Lawson is the only other soloist here). Finally, ENDURA is a funky blues that shows off Lateef's blues prowess to good effect. Yusef would soon be adding instruments to his arsenal and exploring the music of Africa and the Far East, but these early recordings set the pace to a productive career and are among his best sides. Definitely worth checking out.
By Bomojaz.
**
Oliver Jackson- (Drums),
Hugh Lawson- (Piano),
Wilbur Harden- (Trumpet),(French Horn),
Yusef Lateef- (Flute),(Sax Tenor),
Ernie Farrow- (Bass).
**
01. A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie, Paparelli) 13:09
02. Endura (Lateef) 6:45
03. Prayer To The East (Jackson) 9:54
04. Love Dance (Baxter) 6:37
05. Lover Man (Davis, Ramirez, Sherman) 8:18
**
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