Donny McCaslin: Casting For Gravity (2012)

Jeff Dayton-Johnson

Contributor since 2006

Jeff Dayton-Johnson is a rapidly-aging economist and return migrant to California

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Published: December 16, 2012

Tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin has bravely developed a uniquely personal sound that proudly claims its heritage in the long mainstream of jazz, yet sounds freshly innovative. He has released eleven albums under his leadership, among which Recommended Tools (Greenleaf, 2008), with its punishing, revealing trio format, was a high-water mark. McCaslin deploys sheets-of-sound density inherited from saxophonist John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone , together with an inventive approach to rhythm and the placement of notes. This latter characteristic can sometimes resemble the playing of saxophonist Chris Potter Chris Potter
b.1971
reeds , a resemblance brought into clearer focus on this heavily electric album.

And Casting for Gravity is a very electric record. If Perpetual Motion (Greenleaf, 2011) signaled the introduction of electric keyboards and bass, it evolved organically out of McCaslin's exemplary acoustic work. Eyebrows were not raised. "Going electric" may not be nearly as controversial as it was in Bob Dylan Bob Dylan
b.1941
composer/conductor 's day, but Casting for Gravity will raise eyebrows—and thumbs.

McCaslin has made much of the influence of electronica producer Aphex Twin, of dub reggae, and of Headhunters bassist Paul Jackson Paul Jackson
b.1947 in the compositions and performances on this record (certainly not influences that were immediately apparent on the earlier records). Casting for gravity, indeed. So there are surging electric guitar-like slabs of sound on "Says Who," breezy reverb-rich, Augustus Pablo-like melodica on "Alpha and Omega" (from the Boards of Canada songbook), and pile-driving bass notes on "Tension." Very unlike the records that came before. The combination comes out sounding something like the orchestral keyboards of Joe Zawinul Joe Zawinul
1932 - 2007
keyboard in Weather Report Weather Report

band/orchestra —which is a good thing. Mentor and producer David Binney David Binney
b.1961
saxophone 's "Praia Grande" even brings out a Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter
b.1933
saxophone -like beauty in McCaslin's playing.

Bassist Tim Lefebvre Tim Lefebvre
and drummer Mark Guiliana Mark Guiliana

drums were in the Perpetual Motion band, but sound like entirely different players in this more resolutely electric setting. Multi-keyboardist Jason Lindner Jason Lindner

piano is the true author of the sound on the record, providing a mix of electronic textures (and some beautiful acoustic playing on "Love Song for an Echo").

The key concern: Does McCaslin's remarkable saxophone voice get lost in the newly tumultuous mix? It does not. Casting for Gravity provides a different context, a re-imagined platform for appreciating McCaslin's intensity. He sounds different than he does against the intimate acoustic trio of Recommended Tools, and some harmonic nuances are perhaps steamrollered by the powerful wall of sound, but the rhythmic ingenuity of his playing is cast in a new light.

Track Listing: Stadium Jazz; Says Who; Losing Track of Daytime; Alpha and Omega; Tension; Praia Grande; Love Song for an Echo; Casting for Gravity; Bend; Henry.

Personnel: Donny McCaslin: tenor saxophone; Jason Lindner: electric & acoustic pianos, synthesizers; David Binney: vocals, additional synthesizers; Tim Lefebvre: electric bass; Mark Guiliana: drums.

Record Label: Greenleaf Music
Style: Modern Jazz