Prima Materia

Prima Materia is a downtown New York City quintet centered around the free-time, free jazz brilliance of John Coltrane's last drummer, Rashied Ali. Ali plays with this band as he did with the master: powerfully, with a hyper-rhythmic drive matched by few contemporary percussionists. The band's front line consists of tenor saxophonist Louis Belogenis and altoist Allan Chase, a nicely complementary pair of improvisers. The band's original lineup featured two bassists, William Parker and Joe Gallant. Parker eventually left the group, to be replaced by pianist Greg Murphy, whose percussive agility raised the intensity still another notch. Originally formed to play Coltrane's later, most expressionistic compositions, the band has also gone on to interpret the works of Albert Ayler. ~ Chris Kelsey