Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Donny McCaslin: Exile and Discovery
Donny McCaslin: Exile and Discovery
Down the Middle. McCaslin's first effort as a leader is very much a mainstream effort. This recording contains standards (Golson's "Along Came Betty", Strayhorn's "Isfahan", and Monk's "Bye-Ya"); originals ("Exile and Discovery", "A Prayer for Frances") and some surprises (two Piazolla Etudes and the Nash/Weill "Speak Low"). His playing has a whiff of Sonny Rollins by way of Michael Brecker and is quite distinctive and full of ideas. His support from Bruce Barth (piano), Ugonna Okegwo (Bass), and Billy Drummond (Drums) is exciting and complete. This disc is just plain fun.
Surprises. The two Piazolla Etudes provided a pleasant and unexpected punch to this disc. Etude #3 a solo saxophone workout, a fast tango where Etude #4 is a slower more seductive solo reading. Donny McCaslin is a super artist with a great future. I will be anticipating great music from this young man.
Naxos Jazz. This recording is among the third wave of Naxos Jazz releases, all of which have been review within these electric pages by this critic. I have found that all of these recordings have been of a very high quality. All, for the most part, have been recorded live direct to two track digital, preserving that special spontaneity that is jazz. Naxos Jazz has also provided a wide variety of styles and performances, all executed superbly. The other recent Naxos Jazz recordings include Bill Cunliffe's Bill Plays Bud, Clifford Adams' The Master Power, the Mike Nock Quintet's Ozboppin', Flipside's Flipside, and Larry Karush's Art of the Improviser.
Track Listing
Along Came Betty, Exile and Discovery, Isfahan, Mountain Mama, Tenderly, Etude #3, Speak Low, A Prayer for Francis, Bye Ya, Etude #4.
Personnel
Donny McCaslin
saxophone, tenorDonny McCaslin: Tenor Saxophone, Bruce Barth: Piano, Ugonna Okegwo, Billy Drummond, Drums.
Album information
Title: Exile And Discovery | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: Naxos
About Donny McCaslin
Tags
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Become a Sustaining Member
Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.
Help Build the Future of All About Jazz
Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.
Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.
Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.
