The Centaur and the Phoenix

The Centaur and the Phoenix is an album by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef recorded in 1960 and released on the Riverside label.^[1]

The Centaur and the Phoenix
Studio album by Yusef Lateef
Released	1960
Recorded	October 4 and 6, 1960 (#1–7) June 23, 1961 (#8–9)
Studio	Plaza Sound (New York City) (#1–7) Bell Sound (New York City) (#8–9)
Genre	Hard bop, modal jazz
Length	42:24
Label	Riverside RLP 337
Producer	Orrin Keepnews
Yusef Lateef chronology
The Three Faces of Yusef Lateef (1959) The Centaur and the Phoenix (1960) Lost in Sound (1961)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]
DownBeat	[4]

The Allmusic review by Stacia Proefrock stated the performance "takes the risks and the innovations that Lateef was known for, and expands them in a number of different directions all at once, leading to an album that bursts with new ideas and textures, while remaining accessible, and above all, beautiful. Lateef seems eager here to take the next step musically by breaking the mold of his previous albums".^[2]

Don DeMicheal gave the album 4.5 stars in his review for DownBeat.^[4] He wrote, "What makes this album outstanding is that the playing and writing are equally strong. Usually, one or the other dominates . . . The album is a mature statement by a mature artist".^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Yusef Lateef except as indicated

1. "Revelation" (Kenny Barron) - 6:02
2. "Apathy" - 5:25
3. "Ev'ry Day (I Fall in Love)" (Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal) - 6:59
4. "The Centaur and the Phoenix" (Charles Mills) - 5:37
5. "Iqbal" - 4:51
6. "Summer Song" (Mills) - 5:26
7. "The Philanthropist" - 4:02

Bonus tracks on CD reissue:

1. "Jungle Fantasy" (Esy Morales) - 2:42
2. "Titora" (Billy Taylor) - 2:25

Personnel

• Yusef Lateef - tenor saxophone, flute, arghul, oboe
• Richard Williams - trumpet
• Clark Terry - flugelhorn, trumpet
• Curtis Fuller - trombone
• Josea Taylor - bassoon
• Tate Houston - baritone saxophone
• Joe Zawinul - piano
• Ben Tucker - bass
• Lex Humphries - drums
• Kenny Barron - arranger