The Prime Element

The Prime Element is a jazz album by jazz drummer Elvin Jones, originally released in 1976 as part of the "Blue Note Re-issue Series". The pieces compiled here were recorded in 1969 and 1973. The tracks from 1973 (#A1 to #B2) would be included on At This Point in Time in 1998. The remainder can only be found on the eight-disc Mosaic compilation The Complete Blue Note Elvin Jones Sessions, issued in 2000.

Track listing

 * Side A
 * 1) "At This Point in Time" (Frank Foster) – 7:34
 * 2) "Currents/Pollen" (Gene Perla, D. Garcia) – 11:13


 * Side B
 * 1) "The Prime Element" (Omar Clay) – 8:19
 * 2) "Whims of Bal" (Clay) – 12:24


 * Side C
 * 1) "Inner Space" (Chick Corea) - 6:32
 * 2) "Once I Loved [O Amor Em Paz]" (Jobim, De Moraez) - 6:22
 * 3) "Raynay" (Elvin Jones) - 7:57


 * Side D
 * 1) "Champagne Baby" (Joe Farrell) - 11:26
 * 2) "Dido Afrique" (Jones) - 11:13

Recorded on March 14, 1969 (#C1–D2), July 24 (#B1–B2) and July 26 (#A1–A2), 1973.

Personnel
Tracks A1–B2
 * Elvin Jones - drums, leader
 * Steve Grossman - soprano and tenor saxophone
 * Frank Foster - soprano and tenor saxophone
 * Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
 * Cornell Dupree - guitar
 * Jan Hammer - piano, electric piano, synthesizer
 * Gene Perla - bass, electric bass
 * Candido Camero - congas
 * Richie 'Pablo' Landrum - percussion
 * Omar Clay - percussion, programmable rhythm box
 * Warren Smith: tympani

Tracks C1–D2
 * Elvin Jones - drums
 * Lee Morgan - trumpet
 * Joe Farrell - soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute
 * George Coleman - tenor saxophone
 * Wilbur Little - bass
 * Candido Camero - congas
 * Miovelito Valles - percussion