Elias Haslanger | "Legacy" Album Release Show

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Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Elias Haslanger | "Legacy" Album Release Show! Elias Haslanger – Tenor Saxophone Mike Sailors – Trumpet Andy Langham – Piano Ryan Hagler – Bass Daniel Dufour – Drums A longtime fixture on the central Texas jazz scene, Austin native Elias Haslanger presents Legacy , his 9th recording as a leader. Dedicated to the great mentors Elias has had, this all-original program of music is a modern jazz recording, drawing from the rich legacy of the jazz tradition. From the title track “Legacy,” which bounces from hard bop to afro-cuban rhythms, to the ballad “Gentle Giant” which reflects shades of Wayne Shorter, each song offers a vignette of Elias’s life as a modern artist. “Because I am a life-long learner and have such deep respect for the artists and music that came before me, that will naturally come through in my writing. I also believe that creative music is best when it reflects the attitudes and rhythms of today, so each song marks a different feeling, time, or place in my life,” says Elias. “Faith in Family” is a stand-out track that is an emotional love letter to his family, which Elias describes as “the rock on which I build my foundation." Songs like “A View of the City," “Going Home,” and “Sweet Relief” all were written while Elias was living in Brooklyn, New York, and touring with trumpet icon Maynard Ferguson. Each offers insight into life on the road and life in the big city. “Touring with Maynard while living in NYC was a thrill of a lifetime. Maynard taught me so much about performing and how to interact with an audience. He also was a fountain of information about the music, sharing countless first-hand stories about Bird, Wayne (Shorter), Louis Armstrong, Miles, and so many others. Life on the road can be challenging, but the experience was very important to my development,” recounts Elias. Since returning to Austin from Brooklyn, Elias has had an active career – performing, composing and recording. His band, Church on Monday, founded with legendary pianist and organ player Dr. James Polk, is the winner of 5 Austin Music Awards, including Best Jazz and Best Residency at The Continental Club Gallery. Since 2012, Elias has led a weekly show at The Gallery in front of an enthusiastic audience of music lovers. The band has released 3 recordings, all of which have been played and streamed on stations across the world. LIVE At The Gallery was recognized by Downbeat as one of the best recordings of the year when it was released. Elias, remembering Dr. Polk: “My time standing next to the great Dr. James Polk every Monday for Church on Monday – for over a decade – is something that is hard to describe. His feeling, his soul, his language, his very presence was a monumental force in my life and the life of many others. I’m proud to be a part of his legacy.” Elias was also mentored by the patriarch of the modern jazz scene, Ellis Marsalis, who collaborated and recorded on Elias’s award-winning release, Kicks are for Kids. “Ellis was a man of few words, but when he did speak, the weight of those words meant more. He had an elegance and sophistication about him, and always took the music quite seriously. I am honored that he recorded with me, and the words of wisdom he imparted sing in my head daily. I am indebted to him and to an entire generation of elders like him who lived and breathed the music, and who took the time to pass on their legacy to me,” remembers Elias. Elias has obviously learned from these master musicians, and he honors their legacies with this recording: ten modern, original compositions that tell a life story from a unique point of view. One that is highly personal and musical with influences from the past and sounds that point to the future. Elias has assembled some of the best musicians in the country for this session, including his partner, Mike Sailors on trumpet and flugelhorn. Elias collaborated with Sailors for their joint release in 2024, Elias Haslanger Meets Mike Sailors . Mike is a sought-after instrumentalist and an accomplished performer, writer, and arranger, penning arrangements for Decca Records , The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Dewey Redman and Lady Gaga, to name a few. Joining Elias and Mike are Andy Langham on piano (Pancho Sanchez, Christian McBride, Ernie Watts); Ross Margitza on piano (Phil Woods, Russell Malone, Gerald Wilson, Christian McBride); Daniel Dufour on drums (Seamus Blake, Alexander Claffy, Joel Frahm); and Ryan Hagler (Aubrey Logan, Melissa Aldana, Jazzmeia Horn) on bass. These highly accomplished musicians have successful playing and teaching careers in the United States and beyond. Together, they effortlessly weave Elias’s story together through these elegantly crafted compositions with a group sound that is cohesive, flexible, and highly interactive. This band has played together for years and the results demonstrate their natural camaraderie. A sweeping retrospective of Elias’s life and career in music is captured here in Legacy . This recording is not a sentimental look into the past, but a vibrant representation of today, and a glimpse into the life and times of an ever evolving and growing artist. Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! First Show: Doors at 7:15pm, Show at 7:30pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:15pm, Show at 9:30pm.