Yusef Lateef
Yusef Lateef
Yusef Abdul Lateefwas an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer and prominent figure among the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in America, following his conversion to Islam in 1950...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSaxophonist
Date of Birth9 October 1920
CityChattanooga, TN
CountryUnited States of America
Yusef Lateef quotes about
moments loveless avoided
Loveless moments are to be avoided.
art book writing
Whatever I do today is the whole continuum of my experience. Like John Dewey said in his book ‘Art as Experience,’ you can’t separate experience from the work of art. So, if I write for the symphony today, you’re listening to everything that’s happened to me since I was 18 years old.
teacher school people
I started in high school with a teacher there. I also took lessons at the Conservatory of Music in Detroit. Detroit was very motivating. There were a lot of local people who inspired me like Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers, Roy Brooks, Donald Byrd, etc.
african-american looks flutes
I started to study the flute in 1951. The flute has been utilized by African-American musicians as far back as the early Twenties. If you take a look at some of the old pictures of Chick Webb, then you will see the flute right there on the bandstand among the woodwinds.
being-yourself voice challenges
The fact is ones own voice is not heard anywhere else. Its a challenge to be yourself. It takes a lot of courage.
moving order sight
When the soul looks out of its body, it should see only beauty in its path. These are the sights we must hold in mind, in order to move to a higher place.
believe rain player
Each culture has some knowledge. That's why I studied with Saj Dev, an Indian flute player. That's why I studied Stockhausen's music. The pygmies' music of the rain forest is very rich music. So the knowledge is out there. And I also believe one should seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. With that kind of inquisitiveness, one discovers things that were unknown before.
music instruments extensions
External instruments are only extensions of the biological instrument.