Steve Coleman and Five Elements - The Tao of Mad Phat < Fringe Zones >

Grabado en vivo en un estudio frente a una pequeña audiencia, con la idea de capturar y transmitir aquello que el público experimenta cuando los ve tocar en vivo, The Tao of Mad Phat < Fringe Zones > suena fresco, más liviano que en las ediciones posteriores de Steve Coleman y los Five Elements.
La agrupación en versión reducida a quinteto, salvo en Polymad Nomads donde se suman Roy Hargrove en trompeta y Josh Roseman en trombón, reproduce el discurso M-Base con naturalidad y fluidez.
The Tao of Mad Phat < Fringe Zones > empieza con una participación en solitario de Steve Coleman y, a renglón seguido, los Five Elements muestran el poder de su demoledor sentido rítmico, luciendo el guitarrista David Gilmore.
Little Girl on Fire tiene un extenso desarrollo, en su inicio orientado hacia un bop avanzado, para luego continuar con la característica rítmica funk. ****

1.The Tao of Mad Phat 15:29
2.Alt-Shift-Return 7:10

Collective Meditations I (Suite):
3.Changing of the Guard 3:56
4.Guards On The Train 3:04
5.Relax Your Guard 0:39
6.All the Guards There Are 2:10
7.Enter the Rhythm (People) 4:04

8.Incantation 3:56
9.Laid Back Schematics 8:15
10.Polymad Nomads 10:36
11.Little Girl on Fire 16:31
(From Little Girld I'll Miss You and Fire Revisited)

Steve Coleman Alto Saxophone (and Piano on "Alt-Shift-Return")
Andy Milne Piano and Keyboards (on all except "Alt-Shift-Return" and "Polymad Nomads")
David Gilmore Guitar and Guitar Synth (on all except "Incantation")
Reggie Washington Electric Bass (on all except "Polymad Nomads" and "Incantation")
Oliver Gene Lake, Jr. Drums and Percussion

Special Guests:
Roy Hargrove Trumpet (on "Polymad Nomads")
Josh Roseman Trombone (on "Polymad Nomads")
Matthew Garrison Electric Bass (on "Polymad Nomads")
Kenny Davis Acoustic Bass (on "Incantation" and "Polymad Nomads")
Junior "Gabu" Wedderburn Percussion (on "Incantation" and "Polymad Nomads")

All music written by Steve Coleman
except "Little Girl on Fire" written by Bunky Green and Steve Coleman

Recorded live before a studio audience May 6, 7 & 23, 1993
at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY

Novus/BMG 63160-2 [1993]