Eli Howell’s ‘Steps Taken’ Marks a Poised and Resilient Debut

Trombonist and composer Eli Howell delivers an assured and deeply reflective debut with Steps Taken, arriving April 10, 2026. He originally conceived the album as a celebratory culmination of his studies at Michigan State University, but unforeseen circumstances reshaped it into a compelling statement of resilience, adaptability, and artistic clarity.

A tornado in Lansing rendered the intended recording studio unusable just as sessions were set to begin. Rather than postpone, Howell and his collaborators built a temporary, single-room recording environment on campus. This unplanned approach, eschewing isolation and overdubbing, gives the album a cohesive, live energy reminiscent of classic jazz recording practices.

Howell’s recovery from focal dystonia, a neurological condition that forced him to step away from performance for nearly a year, further shapes the project. During that time, he reevaluated his relationship with the instrument, and that period of interruption and renewal informs the album’s emotional depth. Several compositions trace a path through uncertainty toward creative rediscovery.

Howell assembled an accomplished ensemble of distinguished musicians and mentors whose contributions reflect his artistic influences and professional development. The three-horn front line, supported by a dynamic rhythm section, balances precision with expressive freedom.

Across its program, Steps Taken demonstrates stylistic breadth and compositional maturity. The structured interplay of the opening track “Matchmaker,” the introspective intensity of “Reimagined,” and the graceful lyricism of “Dear Helen” each highlight a different dimension of Howell’s voice, grounded in tradition yet forward-looking in scope.

With Steps Taken, Eli Howell establishes himself as a thoughtful and technically accomplished artist, offering a debut that is both musically engaging and personally significant.