In many ways, Yusef Lateef's reputation preceded him. A tall and commanding stage presence, there are actually very few albums that match his physical stature – Live at Pep's is certainly one – where he is able to unleash the kind of drama and invention we expect of jazz's major players. He was consistently good, less so very good, which is the case with this previously unreleased performance from Ronnie Scott's in the 1960s. Paradoxically, the interest lies in the documentation of the then-house rhythm section with Stan Tracey, Rick Laird (who went on to play with the Buddy Rich Big Band and the Mahavishnu Orchestra) and the great stalwart of British drumming, Bill Eyden (who's energy and spirit contributed much to the success of The Jazz Couriers – but that's another story). Their playing is deeply satisfying, Tracey especially, a master of doing the right thing at the right time – not some big grandiose flourish, but little touches here and there that seem to pull everything together with such compelling logic. Lateef performs with a kind of inscrutable panache, working his way through his arsenal of instruments and Eastern influences, an important player in jazz during this period, certainly, but not a vital one.