Los Angeles-based jazz quartet 4word emerges with The Elitist, a bold debut EP that blends composed and improvised instrumental music into a singular sonic statement. The project showcases the group’s fluid interplay and shared musical language, a sound rooted in jazz tradition but unbound by its conventions.
Los Angeles-based jazz quartet 4word emerges with The Elitist, a bold debut EP that blends composed and improvised instrumental music into a singular sonic statement. The project showcases the group’s fluid interplay and shared musical language, a sound rooted in jazz tradition but unbound by its conventions.
“This was recorded in one day. Our goal is to tell stories through all the voices of the instruments.”
The five-track release captures the energy of a single-day live session, channeling both groove-driven foundations and spontaneous improvisation. Featuring Jon Redwood on keys, Maliq Wynn on drums, Alex Rashad on saxophone, and Satchel Brown on bass, The Elitist is an immersive listening experience that balances structure and freedom with intention. The band’s performances stretch across dynamic emotional terrain, from meditative calm to explosive expression, highlighting their chemistry and commitment to storytelling without words. Each member brings a unique voice, collectively creating music that speaks through feeling rather than lyric.
The EP’s abstract cover art—a self-shot flash photograph by Brown—mirrors this ethos. “It represents the abstract nature of the record,” the group explains. “Expanding on the idea of speaking levels without words.”
The Elitist introduces 4word as a powerful new presence in the instrumental jazz scene: united by trust, spontaneity, and an evolving relationship with sound.
