Dahi Divine: The Element

Tenor saxist Dahi Divine makes a strong debut here with a core team of Brett Williams/p-key, Justin Faulkner/dr, Anton Defade/b and some well timed guests. He’s got a thick, dark and rich sound to his orn and uses it well on the material here, all of which he wrote with a clever pen. Hues change along with moods as the unison lines on the title track veers over the restless drum patterns, while staccato African village percussion rumbles beneath the melding reeds of Divine along with Albert Baliwas’ alto on ”Love Tap To The Solar Plexus.” Divine leads the charge on the gallopin “The Assassin” which is reminiscent of John Coltrane’s “Countdown” whereas Defade’s delicate bass and Falukner’s soft shoe brushes flow with Williams melodic piano and melded saxes on the precious “Night is Near.” Defade uses his sticks s paint brushes to create accents and strokes while voices and sax reflectively prance on “Ajna” and village beats are stirred up again by Divine’s crying tenor and Defade’s cowbell  on the galloping “Griot’s Tale.” A mix of American and African souls is well served here. Want to see this guy in concert!

www.dahidivine.com

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