Search - Yusef Lateef :: Psychicemotus

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Peter Baklava | Charles City, Iowa | 09/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1965 Yusef Lateef release was overdue for reissue in the cd format. It is one of the best of Lateef's Impulse recordings-- which I gather from my readings, were all of high quality. Among Lateef's studio albums, "Psychicemotus" is nearly the equal of "Eastern Sounds"(usually regarded as his best.)



Lateef limits himself to tenor sax and various flutes on this album, forsaking his usual excursions into oboe, shenai, and argol. He receives sympathetic backing from the rhythm section: Reggie Workman (bass), James Black (drums, percussion) and George Arvanitas (piano).



The album opens with the herky-jerky rhythms of the title track, which are perfectly suited to Workman and Black. "Bamboo Flute Blues" and "Medula Sonata" are gentle comtemplative pieces typical of Lateef, enlivened by imaginative percussion. "Semi-Octo" is heavily influenced by John Coltrane, and features a good drum solo by Black. "Why Do I Love You", and "I'll Always Be in Love With You" are ballads that owe quite a bit to Dexter Gordon.



Lateef thought so highly of Arvanitas that the pianist ends the album with a solo excursion through Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehaving".



Arvanitas is similar to other Lateef piano sidemen, like Hugh Lawson, Barry Harris, or Kenny Barron. He plays lyrically, with a bright tone, sounding as if he is classically trained. When you add potent bass playing by Workman, and quirky drumming by Black, this effort is elevated to the higher echelons of Yusef Lateef's output.



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A masterwork on canvas

Swing King | Cincinnati, OH USA | 04/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lateef delivers an innovative set here on this 1965 date at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, with practiced sidemen George Arvanitas, Reggie Workman and James Black. The unique blend of Chinese flute sounds and Indian bells knotted with jazz sentiments make this an enchanting Yusef Lateef date to have. The piano playing of Arvanitas can sound swinging or bluesy, depending on the structure of the song at hand. On "Semiocto", Lateef takes command on tenor sax while James Black works up a typhoon drum solo late on the track. Remastered at 24-bits by Verve for Impulse!, "Psychicemotus" offers listeners fabulous sound clarity of a marvelously inventive and pleasant Yusef Lateef recording.



Personnel:

Yusef Lateef (tenor sax, tambourine, flutes)

George Arvanitas (piano)

Reggie Workman (bass)

James Black (drums, percussion, Indian bell)



Producer: Bob Thiele

Recording Dates: July 21 & 22, 1965



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