The life, music, and visual art of Dr. Yusef A. Lateef will be celebrated September 12–13, 2025, as the Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music hosts the Yusef Lateef Symposium. The two-day conference will include panel discussions, viewings of the Yusef A. Lateef Collection housed at Vanderbilt, a film screening, visual art displays and live music performances.
An esteemed group of musicians, educators and writers will be on hand to lead the panel sessions, including the late musician’s widow, Ayesha Lateef, who will participate as a panelist with jazz luminaries Ralph Jones and Alex Marcelo, along with phone participation by Sonny Rollins, moderated by Charlie Apicella.
Day two of the symposium includes scholarly papers, masterclasses, an interview with Maxine Gordan, and a Sonic Convocation with Ralph Jones. It culminates with a special evening performance by Autophysiopsychic Millenium, a creative research music collective inspired by the works of Yusef Lateef. The ensemble is led by a trio of musicians: Detroit’s LuFuki, and Chicago’s Angel Bat Dawid and Adam Zanolini.
The Symposium will include a screening of the acclaimed documentary Brother Yusef directed by Nicolos Humbert and Werner Penzel. The 2005 film features the artist’s recollections of his collaborations with John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. Anecdotes and reflections about music-making are interspersed with Lateef's vocals and instrumental playing.
The Yusef Lateef Symposium is made possible by a Seeding Success grant from the Vanderbilt Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation.
Registration for all events and concerts: $35
Tickets for Autophysiopsychic Millenium (9/13) only: $25
Interested masterclass participants can sign up on the registration form.
Location: Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University, 2400 Blakemore Ave., Nashville, TN 37212
For more information, contact: douglas.shadle@vanderbilt.edu.