Elé Howell
San Francisco native Elé Salif Howell is a drummer, percussionist and composer whose playing draws on the whole sweep of Afro-diasporic music, from straight-ahead swing to West African and funk-rooted grooves. He grew up in a musical household as the son of saxophonist and composer Richard Howell, studied with drummer Lenny White, and moved to New York in 2016.
Since 2021 Howell has been a core member of Ravi Coltrane’s bands, including his Cosmic Music project and his trio with pianist Gadi Lehavi, playing rooms such as the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note. He also tours with Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) and has performed with Gary Bartz, Stanley Clarke, John Scofield and Brandee Younger, among many others.
Alongside leading his own quartet and quintet, Howell is a founding member of VEN Trio, a collaborative group with guitarist Vinicius Gomes and bassist Noah Garabedian built on spontaneity, groove and a shared love of African diaspora music.