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Elias Haslanger

Over the span of his 25-year music career, native Texan and Austin resident Elias Haslanger has carved a unique and distinguished place in jazz history as a saxophonist, composer, and band leader, whose playing and writing has drawn comparisons to John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Ben Webster, and Wayne Shorter. He has performed, recorded, and toured with many world-class artists including Ellis Marsalis, Maynard Ferguson, Asleep at the Wheel, Alejandro Escovedo, The Four Tops, and The Temptations, among many others.

Elias has performed around the United States and Europe at clubs like Snug Harbor in New Orleans, Jazz Alley in Seattle, The Elephant in Austin, and The Blue Note in New York. He has also served as a guest artist/lecturer at universities around the nation. Mentored by the legendary saxophonists Harvey Pittel and Dick Oatts, Elias began to explore the instrument’s vast potential by studying saxophone at the University of Texas and then at the Manhattan School of Music. His interest in writing music culminated in a Master’s Degree in Composition at Texas State University (TSU) in San Marcos.

In 1996, Elias recorded his second CD as a leader entitled For the Moment, which received substantial national airplay, reaching #11 on the Gavin Jazz charts and #14 on the Jazziz Radioactive chart. Herb Wong from JazzTimes magazine wrote, “Haslanger is clearly in the forefront of the young, new, fresh players. He has respect for tradition as well as being himself. He is a merger of the past and the future.” Elias was awarded “Best Horn Player” by the Austin Chronicle in 1997, as well as the Jazz Instrumental Soloist College Outstanding Performance for the 20th Annual Downbeat Student Music Awards. In 1998 TSU awarded Elias the Mitte Scholarship for academic achievement, and Elias began to teach music theory and composition at the university.

That same year, Elias collaborated with the patriarch of the modern jazz scene, Ellis Marsalis, to release Kicks Are for Kids, of which DownBeat magazine writer Michael Point wrote, “Haslanger is now a full grown talent, both as a composer and instrumentalist whose future has almost unlimited potential and should be regarded in national terms.”

Kicks Are for Kids won praise from fans and critics around the world, and the recording was recognized as one of the top five jazz records of the year by Rick Mitchell of the Houston Chronicle, while the Austin Chronicle’s writers Jay Trachtenberg and Christopher Hess voted it the #1 and #3 best records of all Austin artists. DownBeat’s writer Michael Point voted Kicks Are for Kids as one of the top ten best CDs to come out of Austin in the 90′s, and it reached #4 on the Gavin Jazz charts with 180 radio stations around the country playing it. Elias was also awarded “Best Jazz Group” by the Austin Chronicle later that year. During this time, Elias continued to teach theory, saxophone, and composition at TSU before moving to Brooklyn, New York in 2000.

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18
Album Review

Elias Haslanger: Live at the Gallery

Read "Live at the Gallery" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Live at the Gallery boasts rollicking, soulful performances of a first-class set list recorded live and hot onstage at a packed jazz club in Austin (Texas) led by Texas native, Austin resident and tenor saxophonist Elias Haslanger and featuring soloists Dr. James Polk (another native Texan and former organist, pianist, writer, arranger and conductor for Ray Charles) on Hammond B-3 organ and Jake Langley on guitar. Haslanger, who studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the University of ...

141
Album Review

Elias Haslanger: Dream Story

Read "Dream Story" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins


Elias Haslanger counts among his inspirations such classical composers as Claude Debussy, Hector Berlioz and Richard Strauss, as well as a plethora of jazz artists including Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis. Several rock artists are also among his influences.

The Austin, Texas-born saxophonist has toured the United States and Europe, playing with or opening for some contemporary heavyweights in jazz and other styles. Among them are Maynard Ferguson, Ellis Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Clark Terry, ...

195
Album Review

Elias Haslanger: Dream Story

Read "Dream Story" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Austin, Texas-based saxophonist Elias Haslanger's 1998 outing Kicks are for Kids was a favorite among critics. With this long-awaited followup, the artist once again shows that he is a force to be reckoned with. Sporting a strong compositional pen and a brawny, yet fluid tenor sax sound, Haslangler leads his sextet through a sequence of vibrant works awash with tuneful content. He's an acute improviser who embellishes the finer points of John Coltrane and other luminaries with gobs of nicely ...

153
Album Review

Elias Haslanger: Kicks Are For Kids

Read "Kicks Are For Kids" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Young Austin, Texas based saxophonist Elias Haslanger has received a good deal of praise since his arrival on the jazz scene. Haslanger’s sure fire attack coupled with references to Trane, Webster and Rollins serves up a recipe for acute jazz literacy while displaying characteristics that indicates maturity and individualism. Haslanger utilizes the services of the estimable pianist-educator Ellis Marsalis on two tracks and is backed by a good solid band throughout. The attitude conveyed on “Kicks Are For Kids” rekindles ...

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1

Recording

Texas Tenor Saxman Elias Haslanger Releases "Live At The Gallery" (Cherrywood Records) On May 6

Texas Tenor Saxman Elias Haslanger Releases "Live At The Gallery" (Cherrywood Records) On May 6

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations

“Haslanger is now a major talent, both as a composer and instrumentalist, whose future has almost unlimited potential and should be regarded in national terms.” - Michael Point, DownBeatCherrywood Records is proud to announce the release of “LIVE at the Gallery" (May 6, 2014 release) the latest recording from critically acclaimed jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger Elias Haslanger. A follow up to the Elias’s successful 2012 release “Church on Monday", LIVE at the Gallery captures 2 nights in front of ...

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Recording

Elias Haslanger re-releases "The Journey," exclusively for patrons

Elias Haslanger re-releases "The Journey," exclusively for patrons

Source: Elias Haslanger

Jazz saxophonist and composer Elias Haslanger has digitally re-released his 1993 recording The Journey exclusively for patrons who support Elias through Patronism.com, the new website and model by which independent artists and arts supporters can establish a sustainable relationship. The Journey features Rich Harney on piano, Jeff Haley on bass, Chris Searles on drums, Tito Carrillo on trumpet, and Freddie Mendoza on trombone. Originally recorded in 1993, the set features 6 original compositions and 3 arrangements of classic jazz standards. ...

“Most impressive.” -Ira Gitler

“Elias’s CD (Kicks) is very much in the Jazz group concept of today. It is obvious he has spent the time to reach a level of excellence that is commendable.” -Ellis Marsalis

“Simply put, Haslanger is a major talent who could find his way into the upper echelons of jazz with a judicious marketing push and smaller gaps between recordings.” -Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz.com

“From the moment Church on Monday opens, with saxophonist Elias Haslanger leaning into a finger-poppin’ boogaloo on the title track, there’s no letting up. Native Austinite and pillar of the local jazz scene, the tenor hornsman leads his sterling quintet in a set of tunes inspired by sax stylist Stanley Turrentine’s classic 1964 Blue Note LP, Hustlin’. Haslanger’s mentor and longtime collaborator Dr. James Polk on B-3 organ and former Joey DeFrancesco guitarist Jake Langley cut a formidable, three-pronged attack that eschews any muscle-flexing outside playing deep, earthen, blues- drenched instrumentals. This is particularly evident on the swingin’ shuffles “Trouble No. 2″ and “Buffalo,” a number written by late Austin trumpeter Kenny Dorham. It’s also in the rhythm section of bassist Daniel Durham and drummer Scott Laningham really laying it in the pocket. Since his first album in 1994, Standards, Haslanger has consistently demonstrated a penchant for ageless chestnuts, and this session is no exception. His version of “On a Clear Day” is simply divine, fashioning a creamy, satin-smooth tone that harkens back to an earlier era of big-toned tenor men. Likewise, he breathes fresh ideas into Randy Weston’s “Hi- Fly” and Kurt Weill’s “Speak Low.” After a six-year recording hiatus, Elias Haslanger not only returns in top form, he goes to Church. Four stars” -Jay Trachtenberg, Austin Chronicle

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Altin Sencalar Octet...

Altin Sencalar
2022

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Live at the Gallery

Cherrywood Records
2014

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Church On Monday

Cherrywood Records
2012

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Dream Story

Cherrywood Records
2006

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Dream Story

Cherrywood Records
2006

buy

Kicks Are For Kids

Heart Music
1999

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