Jazz Articles about Donny McCaslin

Donny McCaslin: Perpetual Motion

by Dan Bilawsky
January 20, 2011

Each new record from tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin is cause for celebration. With each album, McCaslin has put himself in the middle of a different instrumental configuration, challenging the saxophonist to reach new heights, and Perpetual Motion is no different. Now that he has proven his mettle on the piano-less trio battleground with Recommended Tools (Greenleaf, 2008), and demonstrated his significant arranging abilities with Declaration (Sunnyside, 2009), McCaslin moves on to a roiling locale with electric undercurrents. ...

Donny McCaslin: Perpetual Motion

by C. Michael Bailey
January 19, 2011

Donny McCaslin's Perpetual Motion is an embarrassment of riches, employing a lineup populated by the edgiest, most progressive-thinking jazz musicians currently composing. Alto saxophonist David Binney (who also produces the disc), pianist Uri Caine, bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Antonio Sanchez have been producing music that has positively expanded jazz music for the past decade. McCaslin has made good company with these artists since hitting his stride on Declaration (Sunnyside, 2009) and Recommended Tools (Greenleaf Music, 2008), and here, this ...

Donny McCaslin: Perpetual Motion

by Warren Allen
January 18, 2011

Donny McCaslin has long been one of the under-sung superstars of the modern tenor saxophone. In recent years, however, as both a leader and sideman with big band leader Maria Schneider, the Mingus Dynasty band, and trumpeter Dave Douglas, McCaslin has gained more and more well-deserved recognition. Drawing off the best of the 21st century's jazz, funk and rock fusion, Perpetual Motion demonstrates the sheer power of McCaslin as a player, and the individuality of his musical vision.

Donny McCaslin

by Laurel Gross
April 17, 2010

If saxophonist Donny McCaslin's life were made into a movie, the following 'scene' could be a natural start: A young boy perched on a stool on the bandstand at a California mall. Too young to be let loose to wander, it's an efficient way his working father could keep an eye on the boy and still do his regular Sunday gig playing standards. The grown-up McCaslin--now juggling the delights and rigors of new fatherhood with his career ...

Donny McCaslin Group at The Jazz Standard, Dec. 16, NYC

by Ernest Barteldes
December 28, 2009

Donny McCaslin Group Jazz Standard New York, New York December 16, 2009

The music from Donny McCaslin's recent album Declaration was the basis of this evening's first set, which was part of the saxophonist's two-day stand at the Manhattan jazz club, where he appeared with his nine-piece ensemble (Ben Monder: guitar; Hans Glawischnig: bass; John Clarke: French horn; Marshall Gilkes: trombone; Ed Simon:piano; Alex “Sasha" Sipiagin: trumpet; Marcus Rojas: tuba; Adam Cruz: ...

Donny McCaslin: Declaration

by Tom Greenland
December 6, 2009

Declaration is tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin's eighth solo effort, a compilation of original compositions and arrangements featuring a three- to five-horn brass section including trumpets, trombones, French horn and tuba. With Edward Simon (piano/organ), Ben Monder (guitar), Scott Colley (bass) and Antonio Sanchez (drums) making up the core band, the result is a far denser sound than his previous trio outing. Like earlier efforts, McCaslin's songs are sterling, ranging from bittersweet ballads to funky rock to quirky ...

Donny McCaslin: Declaration

by Troy Collins
August 7, 2009

Venturing into unexplored territory, New York-based tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin's third recording for Sunnyside Records is a marked departure from his previous release, the stripped-down trio session Recommended Tools (Greenleaf, 2008). Augmenting his working ensemble with an understated brass section, Declaration showcases McCaslin's stellar skills as an improviser while demonstrating his mettle as a burgeoning writer and arranger.

Renowned for his Olympian tenor solos, McCaslin's facile interpretive abilities were honed under the tutelage of George Garzone and Billy ...