Donny McCaslin - PERPETUAL MOTION

Donny McCaslin -][- PERPETUAL MOTION - [Greenleaf Records , 2011] -|- Music Review

For those of you who are looking to wrap you ears around an impulsive, conversational and explosive post-bop album then I’m sure tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin has exactly what you’re looking for with his latest offering on Greenleaf Records produced by the incomparable trio of Mike Marciano (Recorded & Mixed & Mastered), David Binney (Producer) and Dave Douglas – (Executive Producer) titled “PERPETUAL MOTION.”

Recorded in New York back in September (2010), the aforementioned production team called in this amazing cast of musicians to collaborate their notable efforts includes: Adam Benjamin (Fender Rhodes & Piano), Tim Lefebvre (Electric Bass), Antonio Sanchez & Mark Giuliana (Drums), Uri Caine (Piano & Fender Rhodes), and producer David Binney (Alto saxophone and electronics) pour their souls, gifts and talents into this incredible collection of ten engaging songs.

By chance, if you’re acquainted with and have followed his career you know that Donny McCaslin is one of the most revered tenor players on the jazz scene internationally. On the opener, McCaslin unleashes his impressionistic voice with ferocity therefore defining his presence through his immovable yet cavernous tonality on “Five Hands Down.” Once you hear this cat play, you’ll notice immediately that he doesn’t hold back sonically as he navigates his way through this collection with emotion, precision, or lots of soul. You can’t help but notice the unpredictable volume of blistering notes flows generously with power and finesse which in essence draws from the origin of his masculinity is sustained intellectually and artistically!

“Perpetual Motion,” … isn’t lets say for the timid or faint of heart. With this record, (as on previous ones) McCaslin and company takes an exhausting journey filled with mind-boggling and unparalleled interplay with sterling compositions to boot pushes the envelope into the ears, minds and hearts of a new era of post-bop jazz enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the sobering title “PM” along with carefully crafted tunes like “Claire, Firefly, Energy Generation and the soulful Memphis Redux” encompasses a distinctive signature through McCaslin’s immeasurable voice and compositional style strengthens his purpose to play some seriously good jazz.

As composer and band-leader tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin is on point with this record. Likewise, he built this collection of music with relevant ideas compositionally, rehearsed and harvested them through the vessel of jazz, soul, funk and improvised music. These songs are performed by a crop of some of today’s best musicians, they made an infallible impression in the fabric of these ten appealing, powerful and uncompromising gems exclusively on “Perpetual Motion.” –Rob Young | The Urban Flux

..:: Source: Two for The Show ::..