Yusef Lateef - 1976 - Club Date

Yusef Lateef 

1976

Club Date

01. Oscarlypso

02. Gee Sam Gee

03. Rogi

04. Brother John

05. P-Bouk

06. Nu-Bouk

Bass – Ernie Farrow

Drums – James Black

Piano – Mike Nock

Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Oboe – Yusef Lateef

Trumpet – Richard Williams

Recorded at Pep's Lounge, Philadelphia, Pa., June 29, 1964.

Previously Unreleased.

The album was issued in the 70s, but it features material from the famous Live At Pep's concert in 1964 -- but which didn't appear on that initial record. In fact, it's arguably a lot hipper than that set -- and it's pretty hip itself -- almost more in a 70s spiritual jazz mode, in keeping with the sound of post-Coltrane Impulse -- proof that Lateef was one of the most farthest-reaching players of his time! The reeds are great -- very snakey and stretched-out -- as Yusef plays tenor, flute, and a bit of oboe -- and the rest of the group stands as one of his best

This archived disc comes from the famed Live at Pep’s recordings from 1964 containing cuts that obviously did not make the original. There’s also a double disc set Impulse! Did called Live Sessions that featured more unreleased tracks on one disc alongside the OG Pep’s tracks. I was going to post that too but alas, I filed it somewhere stupid in my stacks and can’t find it.

Pep’s stands out from Yusef’s other work for the label because of its cohesiveness and obviously this is no different. I think Richard Williams trumpet adds another dimension to the music and he was missed on the albums that followed his departure as a quartet. His performance on his own “Rogi” is especially fantastic. James Black also elevates these recordings, his powerful drumming pushes the music forward and really brings it to life with his New Orleans swing.

If you like your YL oboe-y “Brother John” is a track not to be missed with wonderful soloing over an upbeat modal vamp with crashing drums. The track “P-Bouk” sounds like it’s going to get global but comes out with some fiery hard bop for the soul. “Nu-Bouk” calms things down and closes it out with a bluesy flute jam.

I highly recommend finding this one if you dig YL and if you like Live at Pep’s, it’s a no brainer. This band smokes.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/45yjnwma1jia/F1004.rar