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The Gentle Giant: The Autobiography of Yusef Lateef
The autobiography of a musical genius and poet, Yusef Lateef. Dr. Lateef's work combines images that delight the aesthetic senses and provoke the intellect. This is his story in his words.
- GenresMusic
355 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 3, 2020
It took me a little while to figure this book out.
The first few chapters are boring, I was struck when I realised that the most interesting thing I'd read for at least 10 pages was that latest commenting on how he was happy with his musician union pension.
But the book picks up. It has all the markings of a self-published book: frustratingly mundane and too brief discussions intermixed with interesting and insightful passages, a terrible front cover, and spelling mistakes. Books of this kind are usually flawed because they lack a decent editor, so you have to accept it as it is.
So, on its own terms, it's a nice little book. Much of Lateef's reflections on his albums read a tad like post-partum liner notes. I realised the monumental Latest discography that isn't widely available online (he recorded not much less than an album every 6 months for most of his career). I was surprised to learn that he was not only deeply religious in his Ahmidya faith but also very well versed in philosophy; John Dewey was clearly his particular favourite. His reflective practices were clearly integral to His music, and allowed him to develop some incisive music theory on the blues and music as autophysiopsychic expression. His explanations for why he learnt music from other cultures, so that he could record so much without "reinventing the wheel" for every album, was also interesting. Above, all you can tell that Lateef was a kind and humble man, may his memory live on in his music and his books.
The first few chapters are boring, I was struck when I realised that the most interesting thing I'd read for at least 10 pages was that latest commenting on how he was happy with his musician union pension.
But the book picks up. It has all the markings of a self-published book: frustratingly mundane and too brief discussions intermixed with interesting and insightful passages, a terrible front cover, and spelling mistakes. Books of this kind are usually flawed because they lack a decent editor, so you have to accept it as it is.
So, on its own terms, it's a nice little book. Much of Lateef's reflections on his albums read a tad like post-partum liner notes. I realised the monumental Latest discography that isn't widely available online (he recorded not much less than an album every 6 months for most of his career). I was surprised to learn that he was not only deeply religious in his Ahmidya faith but also very well versed in philosophy; John Dewey was clearly his particular favourite. His reflective practices were clearly integral to His music, and allowed him to develop some incisive music theory on the blues and music as autophysiopsychic expression. His explanations for why he learnt music from other cultures, so that he could record so much without "reinventing the wheel" for every album, was also interesting. Above, all you can tell that Lateef was a kind and humble man, may his memory live on in his music and his books.
June 12, 2018
A titanic life in jazz, international music, and philosophy. The Gentle Giant was a General Genius! Great to read his journey from Detroit to The Infinite.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews