Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Donny McCaslin: Seen From Above

Donny McCaslin: Seen From Above

By Glenn Astarita
October 1, 2000
View read count

When tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin hits his stride, he can hold his own with the best of them. On his first recording for the “Arabesque Recordings” label, titled Seen From Above, and second as a leader, the saxophonist incorporates some of the hard nosed voicings and complex time signatures also exhibited in the fine band, “Lan Xang”. - An outfit, that features the blazing dual sax attack of McCaslin and saxophonist David Binney.

Along with drummer Jim Black, bassist Scott Colley and guitarist Ben Monder, McCaslin struts his broad, weighty tone amid scathing lines and cunning improvisation atop solid funk-rock beats on the album’s opener, “Manresa” and throughout most of these upbeat tracks. Here, the band deviates from a traditional ho-hum style of interplay, marked by shifty time signatures, ominous yet altogether innocent themes and searing ensemble work, enhanced by the potent and ever so creative rhythmic developments of Black and Colley.

Monder and McCaslin implement rapid fire, odd-metered unison choruses on the turbo charged composition, “Mick Gee” as the band creates loads of impact via tense themes and beefy lines. With “Going To The Territory”, the saxophonist is ablaze as he reworks the melody while displaying a husky tone to coincide with his shrewd utilization of various registers and altogether expressionistic approach, while Monder counters with electrified aplomb. Overall, McCaslin delivers the knockout blow in prominent fashion! Recommended.

* * * * (out of * * * * *)

( Arabesque Recordings )

Personnel

Donny McCaslin

saxophone, tenor

Album information

Title: Seen From Above | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: ATCO Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Meet Lynne Arriale
< Previous

Charles Lloyd: Crossing the Waters W...
Next >

Donny McCaslin Concerts

Oct 16 Thu

Donny Mccaslin

Ronnie Scott's
London, UK

Oct 21 Tue

Donny McCaslin

Blue Note
Milano, Italy

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.