Whether his albums appeared under the logo of the forward-looking New Jazz, the contemplative Moodsville, or the parent label, Yusef Lateef never failed to offer a singular blend of jazz verities and cross-cultural initiatives in his years as a Prestige artist. Eastern Sounds, originally presented as a Moodsville disc, satisfied its initial mandate with tender readings of two movie themes and a luxurious “Don’t Blame Me,” while also including hard-swinging tenor sax (“Snafu”), soulful oboe (“Blues for the Orient”), and such iconoclastic colors as the sound of the Chinese globular flute and the Indian rabat (both heard on “The Plum Blossom”). A stellar working band, featuring fellow Detroiter Barry Harris on piano, helps the multi-instrumental pioneer Lateef realize his one-world vision of a music that knows neither stylistic boundaries nor expressive limitations.
with Barry Harris, Ernie Farrow, Lex Humphries
“I was the engineer on the recording sessions and I also made the masters for the original LP issues of these albums. Since the advent of the CD, other people have been making the masters. Mastering is the final step in the process of creating the sound of the finished product. Now, thanks to the folks at the Concord Music Group who have given me the opportunity to remaster these albums, I can present my versions of the music on CD using modern technology. I remember the sessions well, I remember how the musicians wanted to sound, and I remember their reactions to the playbacks. Today, I feel strongly that I am their messenger.”
—Rudy Van Gelder
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