Yusef Lateef - The Last Savoy Sessions (1957-1959)

Last Savoy Sessions DISC 1:

01.Oboe Blues
02.Angel Blues
03.Dreamer, The
04.Arjuna
05.Can't Help Lovin' That Man
06.Moon Tree
07.Stella by Starlight
08.Valse Bouk
09.Half Breed
10.Poor Butterfly.

Last Savoy Sessions DISC 2:

01.8540 12th Street
02.Check Blues
03.Prayer to the East
04.Night in Tunisia, A
05.Lover Man
06.Endura
07.Love Dance
08.Gypsy Arab
09.Sram.

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on October 9 & 10, 1957 and June 11, 1959. Includes liner notes by Orrin Keepnews and Herb Boyd.

Personnel: Yusef Lateef (tenor saxophone, flute, oboe, percussion); Wilbur Harden (flugelhorn, balloon, percussion); Bernard McKinney (euphonium); Hugh Lawson (piano, percussion); Terry Pollard (piano); Ernie Farrow (bass, rabat, percussion); Bill Austin (bass, rabat); Oliver Jackson, Frank Gant (drums, percussion).

These pivotal sessions for Lateef and his Detroit-based groups comprise some of his most important music recorded for the Savoy label. This double CD set consists of complete albums The Dreamer and The Fabric of Jazz. (1959) and Jazz & The Sounds of Nature and Prayer to the East (1957) as well as a bonus cut. CD one is from the 1959 date, and contains some true Lateef classics like the slow swing of "Oboe Blues" and the bright, uppity waltz of "Valse Bouk." The 1957 dates on Disc Two show Lateef and Harden more focused and together or contrary and conversational. "8540 12th St." showcases the two horns mostly listening and spontaneously responding with some unison added on this classic hard bopper, Harden's poignant one note preludes on his solo are unique as an organist might play it. The Prayer to the East session includes the easy blues swing of the title cut, with Lateef's flute invoking Arabic inflections. Others from The Sounds of Nature are the Afro-Cuban to swing-beated "Check Blues" with unusual harmonics from overblown flute or stabbing flugelhorn notes, and the 6/8 one-note bass (or rabat) foundation for "Gypsy Arab," a flute/percussion processional with gong coda. This is a welcome reissue, as it puts the final stripe on Lateef's prolific music for Savoy prior to his more commercialized outings for Atlantic proper. It's some of his more profound, definitve work and is easily worthy of a hearty and universal high recommendation, especially a must buy for those new to Lateef's musings. ~ Michael G. Nastos

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