Yusef Lateef was a Grammy Award-winning composer, performer, recording artist, author, visual artist, educator and philosopher who was a major force on the international musical scene for more than six decades.In recognition of his many contributions to the world of music, he was named an American Jazz Master in the year 2010 by the National Endowment for the Arts. Until his passing on December 23, 2013 at age 93, Yusef remained vital and active as a touring and recording artist, composer and educator. Yusef Lateef is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest masters and innovators in the African American tradition of autophysiopsychic music - that which comes from one’s spiritual, physical and emotional self.As a virtuoso on a broad spectrum of reed instruments - tenor saxophone, flute, oboe, bamboo flute, shanai, shofar, argol, sarewa, and taiwan koto - Yusef Lateef introduced delightful new sounds and blends of tone colors to audiences all over the world, and he incorporated the sounds of many countries into his own music.As a result, he is considered a pioneer in what is known today as “world music.”