In A Temple Garden - Premium Home Decor for Meditation & Relaxation | Perfect for Yoga Studios, Spas & Zen Spaces

This CTI album, engineered by Rudy Van Gelder and produced by Creed Taylor, has the 1970s sound — uplifting, lyrical, a touch of funk and soul, a large ensemble with harmonious arrangements. Here, most of tunes are written and arranged by keyboardist Jeremy Wall but the album belongs to Yusef Lateef on tenor saxophone and flute. The theme is spiritual or religious with track titles of In A Temple Garden, Bismillah [In the Name of God], Confirmation, Nayaz [dedication; heartfelt desire], Jeremiah, and somewhat related Morocco. One track is by Lateef himself, in which he sings How I Loved You. Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk is the outsider. The All-Star band includes Eric Gale on guitar, Randy and Michael Brecker on trumpet and saxophone, respectively, percussionists Ray Baretto and Sammy Figueroa, Steve Gadd and Jimmy Madison on drums, Tom Schuman on electric and acoustic piano plus synthesizer, trombonist Jim Pugh, and bassist Will Lee. Throughout, Lateef's saxophone and flute is strong and joyous. However, the album is merely pleasant and superficial, bordering on 'smooth jazz' and Orientalism. If you can forgive this era's flaws and blandness, you can still appreciate the happiness and the polished performance.