Eastern Sounds

Yusef Lateef | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000YSL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,569 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #46 in Music > World Music > Africa > Zimbabwe

Editorial Reviews

(Vinyl LP) Reissue of classic album from Yusef Lateef (sax, oboe, flute) recorded in 1961. Backed by pianist Barry Harris, bassist Ernie Farrow and drummer Lex Humphries. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz to burn incense by..., May 29, 2002

By 

Cowboy Buddha "David" (Essex UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eastern Sounds (Audio CD)

Yusef Lateef's Eastern Sounds is a classic album from the 1960's that was a firm favourite with both jazz fans and flower children. In fact, I first encountered it when it was given to me by a hippy chick who performed wonderfully sensuous ad-lib dances to it. But it remains a jazz album with a nicely exotic flavour and it has been re-mastered to sound better than ever.

Lateef plays a variety of reed instruments backed by a traditional rhythm section of piano/drums/bass. The music ranges from originals to a couple of film themes which, in Lateef's hands, become minor revelations. In fact, my favourite track is his version of the Love Theme from Spartacus - partly for the way that Lateef manages to turn the oboe into a seductive jazz instrument, but mostly for Barry Harris's lyrical piano that effortlessly fuses progression and melody. Indeed, Harris was a major factor in the success of this album and his talent deserved much wider recognition.

Still, Eastern Sounds remains Lateef's moment - and an incredibly shining moment it is. The music is as fresh and refreshing today as it was on the day it was recorded. And it will appeal to many people who do not normally consider themselves to be jazz fans. Listeners who already know Lateef will need little convincing to buy this CD. I would recommend it to everyone - to be listened to in a relaxed environment of candles and incense.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting and Beautiful, May 22, 2004

By 

R. J. Marsella (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eastern Sounds (Audio CD)

This recording has held up so well over time due to the wonderful musicianship of Lateef and Barry Harris. There is indeed an "eastern" feel to Lateef's playing here but the jazz quartet format is still rooted in post -bop improvisation. Lateef is able to evoke emotion from each instrument he plays and the ballads are some of the most soulful and beautifully played to be found anywhere. At times his playing reminds me of Coltrane's softer side. Overall this is a CD to enjoy again and again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sublime journey thru multiple instruments and styles., August 13, 2000

By 

"jazzfanmn" (St Cloud, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eastern Sounds (Audio CD)

This adventurous set of music offers a change of pace not only from your average jazz album, but from track to track. The cd opens with the airy oriental flavored "The Plum Blossom". On this track Lateef plays a Chinese globular flute that has a mere five note range, and displays his inventiveness on this ancient instrument as he constructs a lovely solo within the strict range. The exotic flavor is carried over into "Blues Fot the Orient", which features Lateef's oboe. This is one of the rarest of all solo instruments in jazz, and Lateef somehow manages to mix a disinctly oriental theme with an effective 4/4 blues. "Chinq Miau" features Lateef's tenor as he makes use of the chinese scale lending it's name to the track's title, constructing another thoughtful effective solo with an eastern flair. Lateef also makes use of more conventional jazz vehicals like, "Don't Blame Me" and "Love Theme from Spartacus" that are ballad standards featuring sensitive tenor and oboe interpretations respectively. The exotic final track "The Three Faces of Balal" features Lateef on a haunting European flute. The supporting cast is solid whith Lex Humphries on drums and Ernie Harris on bass and rabat, a stringed instrument which sounds like a plucked rubber band stretched around a kleenex box. Barry Harris is a fine pianist but sounds lost and out of place at times. This is a great cd for people looking for an introduction to Yusef Lateef's mastery of multiple instruments, or just new sounds in a jazz setting.