Elements

by Scott Yanow
Bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb have been longtime friends, starting with their days at the University of Miami in the early '70s and continuing during their period with Pat Metheny (Egan was in the guitarist's group from 1978-1980, while Gottlieb stayed until 1983). They formed Elements in 1982, which, from its start, also included Bill Evans on soprano and tenor and keyboardist Clifford Carter; guitarist Steve Khan, keyboardist Gil Goldstein, several percussionists, saxophonist David Mann, and other players have been guests. Their music (ed on Philo, Antilles, Hip Pocket, Novus, GRP, Bluemoon, and Wavetone) is a quiet and thoughtful form of fusion, filled with subtle creativity.