Yusef Lateef -- RIP

[David Gitin]

Sonny Rollins laments the passing of Yusef Lateef (on Twitter). This news was confirmed by Lateef's niece.

[Ron Thorne]

By Mark Stryker

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Saxophonist and composer Yusef Lateef, a legendary figures of jazz whose 70-year odyssey in music took him from the bebop clubs of Detroit to the fields of Africa and the orchestral concert hall, died today at his home in Amherst, Mass. He was 93.

Lateef’s death was confirmed by his wife Ayesha, who said that he passed away after a short illness that took root in September. He last performed in France during the summer.



Composer Yusef Lateef performs his
'Concerto for Piano and Orchestra' with
the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at
Orchestra Hall in 2003.

Come back later to http://www.freep.com for more about Lateef.