Renee Said Elan Mehler

• 1 Renee Said 05:10
• 2 Byablue 03:58
• 3 Dani’s Fortress 04:05
• 4 White Cloud’s Dark Sky 03:57
• 5 Wolf Orchard 02:50
• 6 Yonder Waters 05:09
• 7 Quickening 04:52
• 8 The Violence of Reason 04:45
• 9 Tilt 05:04
• 10 I Should Have Prayed for Rain (Digital Only) 04:18
• 11 Shmoon (Digital Only) 06:18
• 12 Bloodcount (Digital Only) 04:04
• Total Runtime 54:30

Info for Renee Said

This ambitious recording balances eight originals with two covers of Paul Motian and Frank Kimbrough, capturing a completely unique band in full creative flight.

“This is the record I am most proud of,” Mehler says. “What a gift to be able to work with these musicians in this setting. What life they bring to this music. Pinch me.” (Elan Mehler)

Recorded at EastSide Sound in New York on February 3–4, 2025 with engineers Marc Urselli and Rocky Russo, Renee Said presents eight Mehler originals by alongside two deeply meaningful covers: Paul Motian’s “Byablue” and Frank Kimbrough’s “Quickening.” Both tributes resonate personally with the band — several members worked extensively with Motian and Kimbrough, making the performances as much homage as living continuation of their spirit.

The originals reflect Mehler’s compositional breadth, from the delicate lyricism of the title track and the mysterious expanse of “White Cloud’s Dark Sky” to the turbulent energy of “The Violence of Reason.” Together, the set creates a journey of mood and texture — music that thrives on openness and collective expression, performed by a band that listens as intently as it plays.

Renee Said stands as the third release in the Newvelle Ten Collection, a landmark series celebrating the label’s tenth anniversary. Each album in the series features original artwork by internationally acclaimed artist Ragnar Kjartansson, reinforcing Newvelle’s mission of pairing exceptional music with striking visual art.

Elan Mehler,piano
Loren Stillman, alto saxophone
Scott Robinson, tenor saxophone
Ben Monder, guitar
Tony Scherr, bass
Matt Wilson, drums
Francisco Mela, drums

Elan Mehler
Pianist and composer Elan Mehler has an ear for melody and an impressionistic touch. Throughout his career, Mehler has released twelve albums as a leader, has toured internationally, and recorded and performed with musicians such as: Bill Frisell, Becca Stevens, Dave Douglas, Ben Monder and many more. His playing has been praised by The Guardian as “as nuanced as Bill Evans’s, and his phrasing draws on both jazz and classical music without directly importing licks from either.

“The subdued certainties of his playing bring a crowded room to total silence.” The Guardian

Elan’s latest album, Renee Said is due out in March 2026.

While living in Paris in 2015, Mehler co-founded Newvelle Records with Jean-Christophe Morisseau. He serves as Newvelle’s Artist Director, shaping the label with his distinct taste and passion to provide a home for artistic exploration.

This album contains no booklet.