4 Instruments That Made Yusef Lateef Hard to Categorize

Tenor saxophone Lateef played the tenor sax with virtuosic skill, making it his primary instrument in jazz settings.

Flute He performed on flute with equal mastery, adding a lighter, airy texture to his music.

Oboe Lateef brought the oboe into jazz, an unusual choice that expanded his tonal palette beyond standard reeds.

Argol and shanai These Middle Eastern and Asian reeds are rarely heard in Western music. Lateef’s use of the argol (a double-reed instrument) and shanai (a conical oboe) set him apart from typical jazz musicians.