Elias Haslanger, a native Texan who resides in Austin, has earned a distinguished and unique place in jazz history over the course of his 25-year career as a saxophonist and composer. His playing and writing have been compared to John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. He has recorded and toured with many top-class musicians, including Ellis Marsalis and Maynard Ferguson, Christopher Cross and Alejandro Escovedo. Elias has performed at venues across the United States and Europe, including Jazz Alley in Seattle and Jazz Alley in New Orleans. He also appeared at The Elephant in Austin and The Blue Note, New York. He has been a guest lecturer at universities across the country. Harvey Pittel and Dick Oatts were his mentors and Elias started to explore the instrument’s potential. He studied saxophone at The University of Texas, and later at the Manhattan School of Music. Elias’s interest in music composition culminated in a Master’s Degree at Texas State University (TSU), San Marcos. Elias’ second CD, For the Moment, was recorded in 1996 as a leader. It reached #11 on the Gavin Jazz charts, and #14 on Jazziz Radioactive. JazzTimes magazine’s Herb Wong wrote that “Haslanger was clearly at the forefront of young, new, and fresh players. He is both respectful of tradition and a true individual. He is a blend of the past, present and future.” Elias was named “Best Horn Player” by Austin Chronicle in 1997. Also, Jazz Instrumental Soloist College Outstanding Performance at the 20th Annual Downbeat Student Music Awards. TSU gave Elias the Mitte Scholarship in 1998 for academic achievement. Elias started teaching music theory and composition at the university. Elias also collaborated with Ellis Marsalis, the patriarch of modern jazz, to release Kicks Are for Kids. Michael Point, DownBeat magazine’s writer, wrote that Haslanger was now an accomplished musician and composer. Jay Trachtenberg of the Houston Chronicle voted Kicks Are for Kids the #1 and #3 most popular Austin records. Michael Point, DownBeat’s journalist, voted Kicks Are for Kids one of the top 10 best CDs from Austin in the 1990’s. It reached #4 on the Gavin Jazz charts and was played by 180 radio stations across the country. Later that year, Elias was named Austin Chronicle’s “Best Jazz Group”. Elias taught theory, composition, and saxophone at TSU until he moved to Brooklyn in 2000. Elias, a Brooklyn-based jazz trumpeter and musical legend Maynard Ferguson, reached out to him and invited him to tour the United States with his Big Bop Nouveau group. Elias was the featured tenor soloist of the band. Elias had previously held the same position as Wayne Shorter many years before. This experience helped shape Elias’s philosophy and abilities as a performer and band leader. Elias returned to Austin in 2004 and has maintained a busy performing and recording schedule. He founded Cherrywood Records and released Dream Story (2006). He also performs weekly engagements in Austin and San Antonio. Elias celebrated the release his fifth CD as a leader, Church, on Monday. It features Texas jazz legend Dr. James Polk who was previously Ray Charles’ musical director. Jay Trachtenberg, Austin Chronicle, says that Haslanger is known for his love of ageless chestnuts. This session is no exception. His rendition of “On a Clear Day”, is absolutely divine. It has a creamy, smooth tone that harkens back at an earlier era when big-toned tenors were more common. The band features four stars.” Elias and Jake Langley are part of the quartet. They hold a residency at Austin’s Continental Club Gallery every Monday, 8:30pm. The CD has been in rotation for 11 weeks on radio stations across the country. It reached #14 on the JazzWeek charts. Fans and writers around the world are raving about it. In Downbeat magazine’s June 2013 issue, Elias was featured with the band. The Texas Commission on the Arts shortlisted Elias for the position of State Musician in Texas in February 2013. This honor has been previously awarded to Ray Benson, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson. It is a testament to Elias’s dedication and hard work in advancing Texas’s arts. Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz.com says that Haslanger is a major jazz talent who can find his way to the top of jazz with a judicious marketing push, and smaller gaps between recordings. Maynard Ferguson, Ellis Marsalis, Maynard Ferguson, Harry Connick, Jr., Martin Banks, Christopher Cross, Alejandro Escovedo, Kat Edmonson, Bob Dorough, Wes Anderson, Andre Hayward, Russell Gunn, Lew Solow, Frank Foster, Clark Terry, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Jesse Davis, Steve Turre, Al Grey, Donald Edwards, Allen Farnham, Roland Guerin, Fred Sanders, Edwin Livingston, Pete Stolman, Mitch Watkins, Bob Meyer, Jae Sinnetttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt, Marvin Stamm, Jae Sinnettttttttttttttttttttttttt, Jae Sinnttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt, Jae,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Jae,,,,,,, Marvin Stamm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Marvin Stamm, Jae,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Ja, e,,,,,,,,,,,,,, e,,,,,,,,,,,,,,… Elias has performed for jazz legends Terence Blanchard and Kenny Garrett. from http://www.elijazz.com
