The Gentle Giant Explained

The Gentle Giant
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Yusef Lateef
Cover:	The Gentle Giant.jpg
Released:	January/February 1972^[1]
Recorded:	April 7 & 9, 1970; September 1–2, 1971
Studio:	Regent Sound Studios & Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City
Genre:	Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Length:	38:39
Label:	Atlantic SD 1602
Producer:	Joel Dorn
Chronology:	Yusef Lateef
Prev Title:	Suite 16
Prev Year:	1970
Next Title:	Hush 'N' Thunder
Next Year:	1972

The Gentle Giant is an album by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef recorded in 1970 and 1971 and released on the Atlantic label.^[2]

Reception

Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars with the review by Michael G. Nastos stating, "While inconsistent and at times uneven, there's more to praise than damn in the grooves and unique musicianship he offers with this small ensemble of focused and singular-minded players... this album is clear evidence of how great a musician Yusef Lateef was, but not in the context of his best music".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Yusef Lateef except as indicated

1. "Nubian Lady" (Kenny Barron) - 6:39
2. "Lowland Lullabye" (Traditional) - 2:23
3. "Hey Jude" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 9:01
4. "Jungle Plum" (Barron) - 4:33
5. "The Poor Fisherman" - 3:41
6. "African Song" (Barron) - 3:50
7. "Queen of the Night" - 2:13
8. "Below Yellow Bell" - 5:07

• Recorded at Regent Sound Studios in New York City on April 7, 1970 (track 3) and April 9, 1970 (track 7) and at Atlantic Recording Studios in New York City on September 1, 1971 (tracks 2, 5 & 6) and September 2, 1971 (tracks 1, 4 & 8)

Personnel

• Yusef Lateef - tenor saxophone, flute, bamboo flute, pneumatic bamboo flute, oboe, bells, tambourine
• Eric Gale - guitar (tracks 3 & 7)
• Neal Boyar - vibraphone, chimes (track 3)
• Chuck Rainey - electric bass (tracks 3 & 7)
• Albert Heath - drums, flute (tracks 1, 2, 4-6 & 8)
• Jimmy Johnson - drums (tracks 3 & 7)
• The Sweet Inspirations - backing vocals (track 3)
• Kermit Moore - cello (track 2)
• Kenny Barron, Ray Bryant - piano, electric piano (tracks 1, 4, 6 & 8)
• Bob Cunningham, Sam Jones - bass (tracks 1, 4, 6 & 8)
• Bill Salter - electric bass (tracks 1, 4, 6 & 8)
• Ladji Camara - African percussion (track 1, 4, 6 & 8)

Notes and References

1. https://books.google.com/books?id=zigEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42-IA7&dq=yusef+lateef+the+gentle+giant&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj--vT8pJWDAxU6C0QIHZpvASAQ6AF6BAgNEAI#v=onepage&q=yusef%20lateef%20the%20gentle%20giant&f=false Billboard February 19, 1972
2. http://www.jazzdisco.org/yusef-lateef/catalog/#atlantic-sd-1602 Yusef Lateef discography
3. Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review, accessed July 20, 2012