STEVE COLEMAN — Steve Coleman and The Mystic Rhythm Society : Myths, Modes and Means

Jazz music community with review and forums

STEVE COLEMAN - Steve Coleman and The Mystic Rhythm Society : Myths, Modes and Means cover
4.00 | 1 rating | 1 review
Buy this album from MMA partners

Live album · 1995

Tracklist

1 Mystic Dub 2:06
2 Finger Of God 24:37
3 The Initiate 3:50
4 Madras 3:43
5 Song Of The Beginnings 19:16
6 Numerology 1:42
7 Transits 20:23

Runtime: 75:40

Line-up/Musicians

Steve Coleman (Alto Saxophone)
Ralph Alessi (Trumpet)
Andy Milne (Piano and Keyboards)
Reggie Washington (Bass)
Gene Lake (Drums)
Vijay Iyer (Keyboards)
Miya Masaoka (Koto)
Josh Jones (Percussion)
Ramesh Shotham (Percussion)
Yassir Chadly (Vocals and Percussion)

About this release

BMG France / Groovetown ‎– 74321316922 (France)

Recorded Live at the Hot Brass Club in Paris,
France, March 24 and March 25, 1995

This album is a part of a trilogy:
1: Steve Coleman And The Mystic Rhythm Society - Myths, Modes And Means (74321 31692 2)
2: Steve Coleman And Metrics - The Way Of The Cipher (74321 31692 2)
3: Steve Coleman And Five Elements - Curves Of Life (74321 31693 2)

Thanks to snobb for the addition

Buy STEVE COLEMAN - MODES AND MEANS STEVE COLEMAN AND THE MYSTIC RHYTHM SOCIETY : MYTHS music

More places to buy jazz & STEVE COLEMAN music

STEVE COLEMAN MODES AND MEANS STEVE COLEMAN AND THE MYSTIC RHYTHM SOCIETY : MYTHS reviews

Specialists/collaborators reviews

js
Saxophonist Steve Coleman first hit the scene in the mid 80’s with his personal take on funk-jazz that he called M Base funk. Coleman’s M Base vision was modern and urban, with spiky angular rhythms that interconnected in ways that pushed the funk into avant-garde deep waters. By the time we get to 1995’s live set, “Myths Modes and Means”, Coleman’s music has expanded into an eclectic collage of sounds that owes as much to older African traditions than funk, fusion or jazz. Yet, it is this use of classical African sounds that puts “Myths, Modes and Means” on the forefront of today’s music scene, more than just jazz or fusion, this is African music for the new century.

It is a colorful ensemble that Coleman presents on here, Steve mans the sax chair while trumpeter Ralph Alessi joins, or battles him on trumpet. Two keyboardists (Andy Milne and a then new to the scene Vijay Iyer) provide piano and tasteful synthesizer, while two percussionists (Rameesh Shotham and Josh Jones) provide rhythms from India and Africa. Rapper/poet Kokayi adds occasional hyper verbal assaults that work great with the music. We’ve all heard bad attempts at mixing jazz and rap, but there is none of that nonsense on here, Kokayi’s lyrics are tough, rhythmic, real and improvised on the spot. All of this is anchored by the hard rhythm section of Reggie Washington on bass and Gene Lake on drums. The icing on the cake is the Koto playing of Miya Masaoka. A couple lengthy tunes on here open with solo Koto playing, and the Koto’s sound and scales set a mood that stretches back many centuries. The Koto is not exactly an African instrument, but it fits really well, filling in for Egyptian instruments that disappeared over the years.

The music on here is just as eclectic as the instruments that are used. There is plenty of Coleman’s hard edged abstract funk, but there also moments when Coleman produces sounds on the sax that mix with the percussionists in a way that recalls field recordings of classical African music. On “Song of the Beginnings” a string synthesizer is used to solo over African percussion, furthering the idea Afro-Futurism. You won’t find too many more albums that can logically mix somber solo Koto playing with hard-edged hip-hop. There is so much music on here, its hard to believe this is just one CD. Wth three ‘epic’ 20 minute plus African odysseys, plus four more potent shorter tracks, this album seems like a three LP gatefold set from the 70s.

Members reviews

No STEVE COLEMAN MODES AND MEANS STEVE COLEMAN AND THE MYSTIC RHYTHM SOCIETY : MYTHS reviews posted by members yet.

Ratings only

No STEVE COLEMAN ratings only posted yet.

Write/edit review

You must be logged in to write or edit review

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Natsuki Tamura-Satoko Fujii-Ramon Lopez : Yama Kawa Umi Avant-Garde Jazz
NATSUKI TAMURA / SATOKO FUJII
Buy this album from MMA partners
Horns Locked Hard Bop
NICK HEMPTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Solstice Post-Fusion Contemporary
PAOLO RUSSO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Why Not? Eclectic Fusion
ZAKK JONES
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

All I Want For Christmas Is You
DAVID HAZELTINE
js· 1 day ago
Chicken
QUATUOR EBÈNE
js· 2 days ago
Det er en egen lomme
THE LEIF
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us