Artist page · 04/07/2026
About
16 albums spanning jazz, blues, world fusion; key pressings from the '60s command collector interest.
Born William Emanuel Huddleston, Yusef Lateef became notable for incorporating instruments beyond saxophone, including various flutes, oboe, bassoon, and traditional Asian and African instruments like the shenai and koto. His career began in Detroit in the 1940s, collaborating with jazz greats and joining Dizzy Gillespie's band in 1949. Lateef recorded prolifically from 1956 onward, producing influential albums such as "Eastern Sounds" (1962), which marked a synthesis of modal jazz and Oriental themes. His musical evolution included explorations into blues, funk, and later New Age styles.
Besides performing and recording, Lateef pursued formal music education, earning degrees by 1970 and teaching at Borough of Manhattan Community College.
Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
YAL Records · 1993
Yal Records · 1992
Atlantic · 1990
Atlantic · 1988
Landmark Records · 1985
CTI Records · 1979
ABC Impulse! · 1978
CTI Records · 1977
CTI Records · 1977
Atlantic · 1976
Atlantic · 1975
Atlantic · 1973
Atlantic · 1972
Atlantic · 1970
Atlantic · 1970
Atlantic · 1969
Atlantic · 1968
Atlantic · 1968
Impulse! · 1967
Impulse! · 1966
Impulse! · 1966
Impulse! · 1965
Impulse! · 1965
Impulse! · 1964
New Jazz · 1962
Charlie Parker Records · 1962
Moodsville · 1962
Prestige · 1960
Riverside Records · 1960
Riverside Records · 1960
Savoy Records · 1959
New Jazz · 1959
Savoy Records · 1959
Argo · 1958
Savoy Records · 1958
Verve Records · 1958
Prestige · 1957
Savoy Records · 1957
Savoy Records · 1957
Savoy Records · 1957Playlist
The tracks that sum up Yusef Lateef's career.
The essentials
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
A pivotal album showcasing Lateef's fusion of modal jazz and Eastern music influences, recorded for Moodsville with 9 tracks including 'The Plum Blossom'.
Recorded for Impulse! Records, this album features modal jazz compositions across 8 tracks, including the title track and 'Bamboo Flute Blues'.
A comprehensive collection on Atlantic Records, encompassing 7 tracks blending post-bop and jazz-funk styles with standout pieces like 'Rosalie'.
Go further
Artists who share part of Yusef Lateef's musical DNA.
Collectors
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
The “Why this rarity” column comes from our upstream sourcing work: for each album, we explain what makes this pressing sought after by collectors (limited run, specific matrix, withdrawn edition…).
Face B
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
"I have always sought to blend jazz with sounds from around the world to expand musical horizons."— Yusef Lateef
In 1960, he returned to education in New York to continue flute studies, balancing academia with a prolific recording career and performances.
In 1949, Lateef joined Dizzy Gillespie's renowned orchestra on tour, marking a significant early milestone in his jazz career.
In 1993, Lateef composed a four-part orchestral suite about slavery in the US, premiered by symphony orchestras in Atlanta and Detroit.
Lateef established his own label shortly before embarking on large-scale compositional projects, supporting creative control of his diverse sound.
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Yusef Lateef was an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative fusion of jazz with Eastern and world music elements.
Besides saxophone, he played various flutes, oboe, bassoon, and Asian instruments such as the shenai and koto.
Key vinyl albums include Eastern Sounds (1962), Psychicemotus (1966), and The Complete Yusef Lateef (1968), each showing different phases of his style.
He integrated scales, instruments, and melodies from Asian and African music traditions to expand traditional jazz vocabulary.
Yes, original pressings such as the 1962 US mono Eastern Sounds and 1966 US stereo Psychicemotus are sought after by collectors.
Lateef grew up and began his music career in Detroit, collaborating with notable jazz musicians and shaping his early sound there.
French retailers and specialized jazz vinyl distributors often stock reissues and collectible editions of his albums.
His formal training in composition and flute enriched his arrangements and allowed him to create complex, genre-spanning works.
Transparency
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
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