Functional Arrhythmias

STEVE COLEMAN’S FIVE ELEMENTS: Functional Arrhythmias
Pi, 2013

AVANT/MODERN JAZZ – Inspired by the rhythmic subtleties of the human heartbeat, alto sax visionary Coleman finds yet another way to combine angular melodies with rhythmic complexity and low, earthy grooves. That human source material means most of these tunes have a medium tempo, with freedom expressed within fixed circular patterns.

Try any track. Fo’s Picks: 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14

1. 6:53 – oblique midtempo bubbling: hopscotch solos & intersecting lines
2. 6:33 – starts as moody improvisational slouch, switches to lopsided groove
3. 3:59 – slow horns & quiet drums; settles into a creeping rhythm
4. 6:46 – rolling clockwork feel, complex rhythms under prodding horn solos
5. 5:38 – relaxed march: slow rhythmic cycle, melted melody, horn dialogue
6. 2:34 – pounding circular groove: short, hopping solos
7. 3:51 – solo sax drifts into calm bass/drum patter; trumpet draws out melody
8. 3:59 – low, stealthy bass and busy drums, questioning horn solos
9. 5:26 – very cool spiral groove comes together gradually
10. 3:53 – odd, lumpy: loose guitar jangle helps pull the rhythm gently open
11. 3:08 – quick-paced bounce: five-way percolation
12. 3:32 – relaxed, exotic feel: slinks around like a serpent
13. 4:30 – midtempo clockwork complexity, horns ride easily on top
14. 3:08 – aggressive horn prodding against a quick skittery beat

[ Fo ] - 6 April 2013