Djw – 2017

Steve Coleman & Five Elements

The altoist and his quintet play a colorfully adventurous piece

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In the 1980s, altoist Steve Coleman was one of the leaders of the M-Base movement, utilizing funk rhythms, complex melodies and adventurous solos to create what could be called “free funk.”

30 years later, he was still performing innovative music with his Five Elements, a group consisting of his alto, trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, guitarist Miles Okazaki, bassist Anthony Tidd, and drummer Sean Rickman.

On “Djw” the ensemble delivers a high-powered performance of unpredictable but very coherent music with tight interplay and dynamic solos by the two horns.

-Scott Yanow

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