The Prime Element
Studio album by Elvin Jones
Released	1976
Recorded	March 14, 1969 (#C1–D2) Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs July 24 & 26, 1973 (#A1–B2) A&R Recording Studios, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	83:00
Label	Blue Note BN-LA506-H2

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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.

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.

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