YUSEF LATEEF — In a Temple Garden (review)

YUSEF LATEEF — In a Temple Garden album cover Album · 1979 · Pop/Art Song/Folk Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
snobb
Yusef Lateef second release on CTI label.Album's music in whole is more or less what you can expect from CTI release coming from late 70s: smooth and soulful jazz, quite polished, in moments even close to new age, but enough professional to be listened without being totally disappointed.

Musicians team is big, with many known names incl. Brecker brothers,Eric Gale and Steve Gadd between others. Songs all are mid tempo,relaxed, but enough melodic do not be too boring, even if not too memorable. Orchestrations are well crafted,I especially like deep bass of Will Lee and some funky synths (in a key of Hancock)and few piano jazzy moments. Latef himself plays quite straight ahead tenor sax and flute and have enough space for his soloing.

From album/songs titles it is possible to expect some exotic rhythms and tunes, but it would be a mistake: music is quite traditional pop-jazz with post-bop roots without any serious world music ingredients. Not a total disaster, but just another pop-jazz album from late 70s.

P.S. One annoying thing with this album is sound mix in a manner of late 70s - with long slowly disappearing compositions endings, I really hate it!

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