PolyTropos / Of Many Turns - New Live Recording out since 10/2024 on PI Recordings !!!

„Perpetually churning rhythms, telepathic detours, unexpected juxtapositions: these are the stock-in-trade of Steve Coleman's Five Elements. And once again the intrepid alto saxophonist's inimitable approach surfaces on PolyTropos / Of Many Turns, a generous, two-disc helping of music that manages to be both intricately complex and fundamentally accessible at the same time. With two live dates captured in France in March of 2024, one can easily appreciate the infectious energy Coleman's group can generate, with rhythmic and melodic permutations galore, all crafted in real time. (…) the most immediate pathway to appreciating Coleman's music is simply to let the beats take over, as the variegated array of grooves this band has at its disposal is itself a marvel.“ (Troy Dostert, 10.12.24, All About Jazz)

Thousands of hours of collective performance have led Steve Coleman and his Five Elements to this free-flowing music, in which spontaneous figures and compositions are woven together in real time. The collaboration is democratic, with each instrument making a rhythmic and tonal contribution at the same time. Interaction is facilitated by the stage arrangement in a semi-circle, which - similar to a drum circle - allows for eye contact and other unspoken cues that can immediately steer the music in a completely different direction. These rapid turns of phrase are particularly characteristic of Five Elemens, as are long staccato lines. Once again, one is reminded of tuned drums and the impression is reinforced that this is clearly music from the African diaspora. (PI Recordings)