Mining the Audio Motherlode, Volume 36 (MP3s)

Give the Drummer Some's
6 Yusef Lateef Downloads from the MP3 Blogosphere

Back in 1979, right around my 18th birthday, I ventured from my suburban Maryland home into D.C. to go see my favorite musician, Yusef Lateef, who was performing at Blues Alley. I'd tried to enlist a few friends to come with me, but ended up going by myself. I've always been bashful about approaching the musicians I idolize, but I was determined to speak to Yusef, to express to him how much his music meant to me. With some measure of embarrassment, I brought with me an album cover for him to sign and kept it in a paper bag.

At the club, the host led me to a small round table right at the foot of the stage, close enough for me to reach out and touch Yusef's tenor, propped on its stand. Soon the lights dimmed, the cocktail-clinking quieted and the emcee called the musicians to the stand. Along with his band, Yusef descended the stairs from the second-floor dressing rooms garbed in flowing white robes that dazzled in the glare of the spotlight. I sat there alone during that transcendent first set, barely breathing, taking in the almost-too-intense thrill of it. Yusef delivered great rollicking sermons and tender, ecstatic ballads, ending each song by holding out the sax or flute or oboe he'd just played as if the instrument, not him, was deserving of the applause. When the set ended, I remained in my seat, unable to summon the courage to approach him.

After a brief interlude, the band came back down for a second set, one long blissful R&B number that built over the course of 45 minutes from a bright vamp to a pulsing, surging, wailing catharsis. Yusef's supporting musicians played as if they adored him, and the intensity of their communal spirit was palpable to everyone in the room. As each man soloed, Yusef made the selfless gesture of removing himself from center stage, standing off to the side with his eyes closed, nodding in appreciation.

When the set came to a close and the musicians retreated upstairs for the final intermission, I felt emboldened and headed, with my paper bag, for the second floor. There was a queue of well-wishers and fans between me and the entrance to Yusef's cool-down spot, and I nervously half-wished that the people ahead of me would use up all the break time. But the line moved along and soon enough I found myself standing there being warmly received by Yusef himself. In the next moment, a couple of dashiki-clad gentlemen pushed past me to greet Yusef, but he gently rebuffed them and said he was already speaking with someone, pointing to me. It was just a small act of courtesy, but to be the recipient of his kindness made my head spin. I pulled out my record, and Yusef autographed it and handed it back. He wrote, "To Bro Doug in peace, Bro Yusef A. Lateef.

Before leaving, I asked Yusef if he was still playing "Russell and Eliot," my all-time favorite tune (which appeared on the 1969 LP Yusef Lateef's Detroit). He said that the song was in the band's book and then smiled as I thanked him and walked on jelly legs back down to my table. When the next set began, I sat there at the edge of the bandstand, transfixed, as Yusef stepped to the mic, bowed in my direction, and announced, "Here's a song for my new friend." Then he counted off for the band and they launched into the opening groove of "Russell and Eliot." (mp3)

This Friday, October 9, will be Yusef Lateef's 89th birthday. Tune in to my radio show, Give the Drummer Some, [hear the show here] for a three-hour celebration. To get the party started early, this volume of Mining the Audio Motherlode offers six wonderful recordings by Yusef, including downloadable tracks for Hikima, a recording that recently surfaced that has never appeared on any discography. (It contains material that appears to have been recorded at the same July '83 session that produced In Nigeria.)

Stunning Unheard Nigerian Gem
Yusef Lateef  ~  "Hikima (Creativity)"
High Life (mp3)  |  The Mood (mp3)  |  C.N.C.S. (mp3)  |  Koroso (mp3)
North Africa (mp3)  |  Blues Revised (mp3)  |  Mud Theatre (mp3)

Blowing in Philadelphia
Yusef Lateef  ~  "Live at Pep's, Vol. 2"
(The Sound of Jazz)

Theremin Alert
Yusef Lateef  ~  "A Flat, G Flat and C"
(Blog: Daytime Lovers)

Blowing in from Detroit
Yusef Lateef  ~  "Before Dawn"
(Blog: The Monk)

Big Bass Drum Say Tum T'tum
Yusef Lateef  ~  "Part of the Search"
(Blog: Flageolette)

Stay in Contact with Your Mind
Yusef Lateef  ~  "Autophysiopsychic"
(Blog: The CTI Never Sleeps)

Listen for music from these and other incredible finds on
Give the Drummer Some, Fridays on WFMU, 9 to Noon (ET).

Check out every installment of Mining the Audio Motherlode

Comments

[Dave McMullin]

Awesome! Live at Peps has long been one of my favorite rekkids.

[Doug Schulkind]

A brief note about Mining the Audio Motherlode: The main focus here will be on
posts of rare and out-of-print recordings, but the blogs themselves are responsible
for the content they are providing.

A few helpful words about the downloads:
Follow the links provided to blog pages offering the downloads. Look for the download link on the page. (Occasionally, the link is listed in the Comments section. Also, if the original download link is no longer active, check further down in the string of comments; a new download link may be posted there.)

Some downloads deposit a folder on your desktop; others leave an rar. file, which needs to be opened using special software. This software is FREE and available online. (If you use a Mac, I highly recommend UnRarx.)

Some blogs provide passwords, which then must be entered when opening the rar. file. The password is typically listed right next to the original download link.

Be sure to search the archived pages at each individual blogs to find more musical gems. Also, check the blog rolls at each blog for leads to other great blogs.

Searching for a specific artist or album? Use Google's BlogSearch or the terrific music blog search engines Captain Crawl and Chewbone.

[Rancho Thatchmo]

Check out this man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j6KFoOsB7E

[lo-fi jr.]

I've never really clicked with his groove, but the enthusiasm in personal stories like this always makes me think it's time to reassess. Thanks for the tale and the files. You may just might have helped me to see the light.

[Brazen]

Doug, great story! It gave me goosebumps. Thats what all great fan encounters should be like... something that makes you into an even bigger fan. I've had a few of my own so I know how it feels. Keep your superb musical posts coming!

[Charlotte Louise]

Great story, indeed. Thanks.

[Trevor MacLaren]

Always loved Yusef as well, excellent tracks. Thanks so much!!

[mike kennedy]

I think Russell and Eliot is my new favorite song. I had never heard it before. Great story