Another Club55 product
R. Hill | San Jose CA | 01/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like Ari Hoenig and Jean-Michel Pilc, McCaslin keeps the time open, but with more than a trio. No head/solo/head forms. Although he sometimes plays 'too many notes', it's in more of a Coltrane wall-of-sound modal way. The compositions give a warm homey feel reminiscent of String Cheese Incident, almost anthem-like, but in a good way. I've only sampled his other albums, but this seems much more successfully impressionistic. My fave of the year so far."
Modern and latinesque
Ali Haluk | Istanbul, Turkey | 11/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Donny McCaslin (tenor s. and flutes) leads a sextet gathering David Binney (alto s.), Ben Monder (guitar), Scott Colley (bass), Antonio Sanchez (drums) and Pernell Saturnino (percussion).
the first song "a brief tale" is a great intro with a tenor-percussion duet.
the third cut, "madonna" is "binneyesque". ("young lion" of alto saxophone david binney is also the producer of this lovely album)
in the fourth cut, "sea of expectancy" ben monder leads the song but it's not "monderesque". mccaslin's flute, and binney's alto extend the music beyond expectancies...
after this lovely balad, an electrified and avantgarde cut, "in pursuit" exhibits the energic side of this extremely talented band.
"village natural" sounds like a latin and even like a david sanchez song. latin effects arise from the use of percussion in general and from the melodic lines partly throughout the album. after a short and catchy song "send me a postcard", latin effects make its top in the eighth cut, "fast brazil".
the last song "festival in 3 parts" is a long and modernist farewell.
all are original. all are beautifull. enjoy them..."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1