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The Dave Douglas and Elan Mehler Sextet mixes seasoned veterans with relative newcomers, setting poetry and specifically haiku into the context of improvising music. On If There Are Mountains, their first album as co-leaders, the trumpeter and pianist are joined by vocalist Dominique Eade, reedist John Gunther, bassist Simón Willson, and drummer Dayeon Seok. If There Are Mountains, previously released only to vinyl on Mehler's tag Newvelle Records, now sees a fresh via Douglas' own tag Greenleaf Music. Douglas and Mehler composed all thirteen tracks between themselves, including four never-before-heard songs Douglas' InchArms Folded to the MoonInch, InchA Thicket of Summer GrassInch, and InchLifeInch plus Mehler's InchBarn's Burnt DownInch. While the spark for Douglas and Mehler's collaboration around haiku goes back two decades to an early performance of Douglas' InchVillage of No BellsInch, this vocal-forward ensemble sounds undeniably fresh. The group presents unusual melodic relationships with concise expression, matching the form of the Japanese poetry found within the lyrics. Album Tracks 1. If There Are Mountains 2. We Saw You Off 3. Even a Nameless Stream 4. Wolf Orchard 5. Haiku 6. Here on the Plains 7. Village of No Bells 8. The Spring Current 9. With Your Singing 10. Arms Folded to the Moon 11. A Thicket of Summer Grass 12. Barn's Burnt Down 13. Life
