Category Archives: Jazz Songs

Jazz songs from jazz saxophone player and composer Elias Haslanger

A Time to Rest, Reflect

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As 2011 closes and we move toward a new year, I wish you all the very best and hope you have a healthy, prosperous 2012. It’s been a whirl-wind couple of months but I’m so fortunate to have been able to make some great jazz saxophone music along the way.

In the studio with Dr. James Polk

Dr. James Polk telling one of his famous stories

One of the highlights for me was the ability to go into the recording studio with Dr. James Polk, Austin jazz icon and former musical director for Ray Charles for many years. Dr. Polk played on my first CD, Standards, and I was thrilled to be able to have him play on my latest effort. Recorded in two days at Churchhouse Studios just before Thanksgiving, the new CD will feature Dr. Polk on Hammond B3 organ, Jake Langley on guitar, Daniel Durham on bass and Scott Laningham on drums.

The program features two new original compositions and eight standards that I arranged for the group. In contrast to my last CD Dream Story, which features all original compositions and is heavily influenced by the nuanced style of Wayne Shorter, this CD is very accessible, swinging and just feels good. Nothing wrong with that!

I’m going back into the studio next week to mix the recording and I hope to have it ready to release sometime in Feb or March – before SXSW. If you are interested in participating in this recording with me, please consider joining Patronism.com where 100% of your subscription goes to finishing this CD. Thanks for reading and enjoy your holiday!

The Journey

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I’m excited to announce that I’m digitally re-releasing my very first jazz saxophone and composition recording called The Journey. Originally recorded and released as a demo in 1993, The Journey features 6 original compositions and 3 arrangements of classic standards performed by Rich Harney on piano, Jeff Haley on bass, Chris Searles on drums, Tito Carrillo on trumpet and Freddie Mendoza on trombone.

Listen to a single track called Monk in Mind right here, below. If you are interested in the entire recording, which is out of print, become my patron by subscribing to Patronism.com where you’ll have access to this recording plus my 4 other CD’s and a live recording from a KUT Studio 1A radio broadcast. All of this and a lot more content (6 CDs!) for as little as $2 per month for a 1yr subscription. Learn more at Patronism.com/EliasHaslanger.

Monk in Mind by Cherrywood Records

 

Ron Westray Thomas Heflin Project

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Friends – I’d like to tell you about a recent CD release from trombonist Ron Westray and trumpeter Thomas Heflin entitled Live from Austin. Recorded at Austin’s own Elephant Room in November of 2009, the CD features an all-star lineup of jazz musicians including yours truly, Neal Caine, Adonis Rose, Eric Revis, Peter Stoltzman and David Sierra. I’m particularly proud of the fact that I wrote two of the compositions featured on the CD – Eternal & Absolute and One Hand Clap. Please check the CD out and support Thomas and Ron. They did an amazing job lining up the musicians, arranging for the live recording session and producing the CD. Click the link below to learn more and buy.

Thomas Heflin and Ron Westray, Live from Austin

Jazz Song of the Day

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I wrote the title track to my 3rd CD, Kicks are for Kids in about one week back in the summer of 1997. I had been listening to a lot of Joe Lovano, Landmarks, so I took my inspiration from his compositional style and also from Wynton Marsalis’s “Chambers of Tain” from Black Codes (From The Underground) When the band started to rehearse the tune, JJ Johnson came up with the hip-hop beat at the beginning. I had originally conceptualized this as more of an afro-latin feel but the syncopated melody at the beginning did lend itself very well to hip-hop and I really liked what JJ was doing so I left it. I didn’t have a name for the tune yet and after about the 3rd rehearsal, my buddy and pianist at the time, Fredrick Sanders, started calling it Kicks are for Kids and so it stuck. It has become my signature song ever since. You can preview it and purchase just the song or the entire album on iTunes or at Amazon.com.

Kicks Are for Kids - Kicks Are for Kids


Dream Story

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Elias Haslanger Dream StoryJazz Saxophone player and composer Elias Haslanger has recorded with Ellis Marsalis, toured with Maynard Ferguson, opened for McCoy Tyner and Kenny Garrett and has played with countless other jazz superstars. His 4th jazz CD release Dream Story features an all original jazz program.

Dream Story is the latest release on indie jazz label Cherrywood Records. The all original jazz program is a result of 8 years of writing and reflects time spent in NYC and in Austin.

The CD features JJ Johnson (d), Pete Rodriguez (tpt), Andy Langham (p), Hamilton Price (b), and Randy Zimmerman (tbn). You can preview the songs here and purchase securely via digital download through CD Baby by clicking the BUY button within the player below. You can download the entire CD or just one track at a time. If you prefer, they will also ship you an actual CD (crazy, I know).

“Elias’s CD 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

Dream Story by Cherrywood Records

Kicks are for Kids

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Elias Haslanger Kicks are for KidsKicks are for Kids is the 3rd CD which Elias co-produced with Tab Bartling and Heart Records. The CD features Ellis Marsalis (p), Fred Sanders (p), JJ Johnson (d), Edwin Livingston (b), and Tito Carrillo (tpt). Released in 1998, the CD quickly shot up the Gavin Radio Charts peaking at #4 in the summer and gathered critical acclaim from writers, dj’s,and musicians around the world. The CD contains all original material minus one Duke Ellington composition and highlights the band Elias worked with weekly for 4 years.

>>Preview and Buy on Amazon
>>Preview and Buy on iTunes

Standards

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Elias Haslanger StandardsRecently charting at #31 on the Gavin report and distributed nation wide by Heart Music, Inc., Standards is the first CD for Elias as a leader. Recorded in five hours, with only one take per song, this CD captures a seriously swinging session in the true spirit of improvised music. The CD also features Dr. James Polk (p), former musical director for the Ray Charles Orchestra, Jeff Haley (b), and Steve Schwelling (d).
>>Preview and Buy on Amazon