Elias Haslanger and Tito Carrillo at Monks – Austin TX
with James Suter, Daniel Dufour, and Ryan Hagler
July 29th 2024
Report & Photos: Thierry De Clemensat – USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
Towards the end of the month, you will be able to attend the launch of the new album by Elias Haslanger and Mike Sailors. Unfortunately, our schedule doesn’t allow us to be present on those dates, so we attended this concert at Monk’s, one of the best places to appreciate jazz in Austin, where you can find the best resident or visiting artists in the city. We arrived on time, Elias recognized me, although we rarely see each other, we greeted each other, and a few minutes later, the concert began. Needless to say, given the musicians on stage, the pleasure was immediate, and since the room is very small, the audience is very close to the musicians, creating a unique energy every time.
All very seasoned performers, having played with the best and contributed to the history of jazz on this side of the Atlantic for many years, I must admit that for a guy born in Europe like me, it’s a privileged moment every time, always surprised by the great simplicity of these artists, which matches their talent. I had discovered Elias with his show “Church on Monday.” Here, the show was quite different. Elias Haslanger and Tito Carrillo took us through the works of Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter, and a few others, each time sharing a bit of history in a friendly and engaging manner, delighting all the jazz enthusiasts in the room.
I had already talked about Tito Carrillo, on the occasion of the release of his album “Urbanessence“. At that time, I had never seen this musician perform live, and I must admit that the artistic chemistry Tito has with Elias is just grand. Besides the talent we know they possess, they perfectly blend their cultures, making their renditions of familiar tunes full of delightful surprises in terms of arrangements. For Elias Haslanger, I refer you to this article.
What amuses me since I’ve been here is that, after writing about countless album releases for so many years, I never imagined, from my native Europe, that one day I would see and hear in person this or that artist I had written about over the years, whether as a leader or accompanying another artist on an album or on stage. Nothing compares to live performances, and here, one is never disappointed. Experiencing up close the fabulous cultural heritage that has shaped these artists over the centuries is a true joy. On stage, Elias Haslanger and Tito Carrillo give everything, absolutely everything! To the point where one feels honored to have attended such a performance. I had often heard of drummer Daniel Dufour, and in the end, I am not surprised to see him in this magnificent quintet, combining softness, strength, and intelligence in his complex playing. And then there are the two magicians: the very discreet and talented bassist Ryan Hagler, as incredible in his accompaniments as in his admirable solos. I had the opportunity to talk about him a long time ago because I had discovered him on several albums. His discography is so extensive that it’s impossible to cover it all, but for me, this pianist is the American version of Joachim Kuhn, which says everything about how highly I think of him.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, July 29th 2024
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Since the video from Monk’s has not been published, I’m sharing two online videos, one of Elias Haslanger and the other of Tito Carrillo, which will allow you to get to know these artists if you haven’t already.
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Elias Haslanger Meets Mike Sailors, Album Release Concert
August 9, 2024 (9pm-1am) at the Elephant Room – Austin TX
August 23 at Monks – Austin TX (8pm and 10pm)
