Hikima: Creativity

Key System Recordings present a reissue of Yusef Lateef's Hikima: Creativity, originally released in 1983. In the early 1980s, famed jazz saxophonist and musical luminary Yusef Lateef traveled to Nigeria as a Senior Research Fellow to study, write, and teach at Ahmadu Bello University. He cut this record while there; pressed locally in Nigeria, it remained virtually unknown by jazz fans and collectors for over 30 years. On Hikima, Lateef leads a nonet of African musicians in six compositions that fuse his deep blues and jazz roots with native Nigerian instruments, drums and chants. The sounds stretch from meditative and melancholic to urgent and unrelenting. A singular recording impossible to classify or box in. Licensed through Yusef Lateef's estate and lovingly pressed to vinyl by Key System Recordings, a new imprint dedicated to progressive and underground music of all types helmed by Jonathan Sklute, founder of NYC vinyl boutique Good Records. Officially licensed through the Lateef estate. Restored and remastered by Jessica Thompson. Pressed at RTI; sleeve done at Dorado; initial edition of 800.