Formed 1982

Elements was formed in 1982 by bassist Mark Egan, born in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1951, and drummer Danny Gottlieb, born in New York City in 1953, both formerly of the Pat Metheny Group’s original lineup from 1977 to 1981. Both had studied at the University of Miami’s School of Music and had worked through the Miami session scene before joining Metheny. The group’s debut, “Elements” (Philo, 1982), was produced by Egan and Gottlieb and documented their core duo approach. “Forward Motion” (Antilles, 1984) expanded the lineup to include saxophonist Bill Evans (the saxophonist, born 1958) and keyboardist Clifford Carter alongside guest contributions from percussionists Manolo Badrena and Don Alias and guitarist Steve Khan. The ensemble built a discography across Philo, Antilles, Novus and Wavetone through the 1990s with a style of fusion that prioritised atmosphere and interplay over technical display. Egan and Gottlieb have continued performing together in various configurations since the group’s active period ended in the mid-1990s, most recently recording together in a more traditional jazz style under their own names from 2019.