“His music showed a lot of maturity, technical proficiency, but moreover, he has a voice. That’s rare.”
“...very much in the exploratory spirit of Booker Little’s amazing early 1960’s sextet... melodic and sonorous, full of appealing hooks and rich harmonies”
“Alex Heitlinger is a thoughtful trombonist and a promising composer whose new album, The Daily Life of Uncle Roger, makes full use of avuncular inspiration. His sextet features some considerable talent...”
“Heitlinger’s elaborate, richly lyric tunes give each improviser plenty to chew on. Each tune contains numerous, discreet episodes and plenty of harmonic movement. But his dense arrangements, which convey a much larger sound than you’d expect from a sextet, guide the listener through each section with an abundance of sonic warmth… together they masterfully bring the leader’s tunes to life—pensive, plush and panoramic post-bop, in all their rich, harmonic glory.”
“… demonstrates great promise through his knack for writing catchy melodies... colorful horn arrangements that are broadcasted immediately on the opening Green Light, a buoyant, yet driving piece that demonstrates the group’s highly interactive level... The polyphony from the horns also inspires... Heitlinger’s sensitivity also shines through... Considering the whole, then, this record is sure to please those looking for a mix of mainstream jazz and announces the arrival of a name to watch.”
““With a foot firmly planted in modern post bop, Heitlinger’s writing for this sextet demonstrates a keen sense of interplay for the front line, as he develops themes that are just as often about intertwining contrapuntal lines as more straightforward harmony.””