LAST Sunday's first visit to Ireland by saxophonist Steve Colemen and Five Elements, organised by the Improvised Music Company, attracted a capacity attendance to Whelan's. The programme consisted of 1 1/2 hours of uninterrupted playing.

With the exception of a lovely opening coda by Coleman on alto, along with some duet choruses - Coleman and Andy Milne (keyboards) - at the reprise into Body And So# lit was music of sheer rhythmic intensity, with Sean Riekman (drums) and Miguel "Anga" Zayas particularly prominent throughout. The only recognisable theme, incidentally, was Body And Soul.

David Dyson (bass guitar) and a highly-athletic dancer - whose name escaped me - completed a group whose musicianship throughout was impressive. However, a 90-minute, non-stop programme of relentlessly rhythmic music, including superb congas by Anga and interesting, a capella by the band, with minimal harmonic changes, was somewhat lacking in light and shade. Personally, it denied me the opportunity to experience the emotional range of either Coleman or Milne - two obviously gifted players.