This version of the ensemble is notable for the return of Anthony Tidd on electric bass and Sean Rickman on drums, both of whom first played with the band more than 15 years earlier.

The rest of the band consists of trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson and guitarist Miles Okazaki.

Coleman has long been fascinated with time-related themes, and Functional Arrhythmias is his attempt at creating a musical analogy of the rhythmic interaction between the circulatory, nervous, respiratory, and other biological systems of the human body.

"[2] The JazzTimes review by Lloyd Sachs says, "This may be the most openly engaging, generous effort yet by the influential founder of the M-Base movement.

"[3] In a review for BBC Music, Martin Longley states, "This is the most exciting and substantial Coleman release of the last few years, rigorously challenging, pumped with insinuating melodies, sleek with propulsive energies and pulsating with a uniquely globular funkiness.