The Dave Douglas and Elan Mehler Sextet sets haiku and contemporary poetry into the context of improvising music.

“An outstanding collaboration.” –DownBeat

“An instant classic.” –The Arts Fuse

If There Are Mountains: album available now.

The Dave Douglas and Elan Mehler Sextet mixes seasoned veterans with relative newcomers, setting poetry and specifically haiku into the context of improvising music. Their new album, If There Are Mountains, is their first project as co-leaders. Previously released only to vinyl on Mehler’s label Newvelle Records, If There Are Mountains now sees a fresh release via Douglas’ own label Greenleaf Music.

Douglas and Mehler composed all the ensemble’s music between themselves. While the spark for their collaboration around haiku goes back two decades to an early performance of Douglas‘ ” Village of No Bells”, this vocal-forward ensemble sounds undeniably fresh. The group presents unusual melodic relationships with concise expression, matching the form of the Japanese and contemporary poetry found within the lyrics.

Touring personnel

• Dave Douglas, trumpet
• Elan Mehler, piano
• Dominique Eade, vocals
• John Gunther, saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
• Simón Willson, bass
• Rudy Royston, drums

Recent performances: 2023

• Denver, CO – Dazzle at Baur’s
• Chicago, IL – Constellation
• Philadelphia, PA – Solar Myth / Ars Nova Workshop
• plus select college & university masterclasses