Elias Haslanger: Dream Story

On "Simple Melodies, Haslanger executes a stout and gutsy gospel inflected jazz-blues motif marked by hard-blowing lines and the band's staggered funk-rock pulse. Then on "Interloper, he generates a bronzy tonal palate atop an anthem-like theme, radiantly colored by drummer J.J. Johnson's soft mallet work. In other areas, the band excels within sprightly swing/bop vamps, sanguine balladry and climactic crescendos. And with "Street Beat, Haslanger soldiers forward atop his rhythm section's military-style march pulse.

Perhaps with his busy schedule and session duties, Haslanger cannot devote much time to his recording career. With selfish intentions in mind, I hope he doesn't keep us in tow for another eight years. 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.

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