Search - Donny Mccaslin :: Soar

Soar
Donny Mccaslin
Soar
Genres: International Music, Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (9) - Disc #1

Like Eric Alexander, another excellent young saxophonist, Donny McCaslin reveals a healthy respect for the classic muscular tenor sound--no wispy, half-hearted emoting for him. But on Soar, as on previous efforts under his...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Donny Mccaslin
Title: Soar
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sunny Side
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 4/4/2006
Genres: International Music, Jazz, Pop
Styles: Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Modern Postbebop, Bebop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 016728115025

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Like Eric Alexander, another excellent young saxophonist, Donny McCaslin reveals a healthy respect for the classic muscular tenor sound--no wispy, half-hearted emoting for him. But on Soar, as on previous efforts under his own name, he forcefully departs the jazz mainstream to engage in Panamanian folk tunes, post-fusion melodies and open-ended modern structures. McCaslin, who recently replaced Chris Potter in Dave Douglas' quintet, is supported by two of his cohorts in the Maria Schneider Orchestra: Luciana Souza, whose wordless vocals color the sound with pastel cool and act as a lively harmonic foil, and guitarist Ben Monder, who provides lyrical heat. Producer Dave Binney keeps the sound varied, making good use of McCaslin's flute playing (and tenor overdubs) and adding brass to a couple of performances. The gifted pianist Orrin Evans keeps his gospel chops under wraps but, together with bassist Scott Colley, provides exceptionally graceful support. --Lloyd Sachs
 

CD Reviews

Donny's Latin Jazz Disc . . .
Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 04/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . certainly his finest effort to date.



Here's an entirely accomplished jazz tenor saxophonist who's never, until now, fully realized his huge potential.



Well, I'm here to tell you that he's finally done it. With Soar, he puts to rest any lingering sense that he may never achieve the heights gained by the top practioners of his peculiar art.



He's been edging toward this magnificence with his last several discs, but fully committing to Latin jazz seems to have been the right move for this prodigiously talented jazzman. He reminds me, somewhat, of Dave Binney, the brilliant alto saxist, who has struck it big with Free to Dream, Welcome to Life, and South--all in the Latin mode. On this disc, McCaslin smartly recruits such Latin standouts as vocalist Luciana Souza, drummer Antonio Sanchez, percussionist Pernell Saturnino, and trombone player Luis Bonilla to create a wonderfully evocative South-of-the-border sensibility. Throw in Orrin Evans (piano) and Ben Monder (guitar), players one doesn't automatically identify as Latin icons but who marvelously intuit that vibe, and you've got a band of huge suggestiveness.



Top tunes include the huge evocative "Hero as a Boy," with its mesmeric repetitive figure, "Tanya," a (w)ringing statement of purely primitive emotion, and the title track, "Soar," with its percussive drive, intricate doubling of sax and trumpet, and lilting piano figurers.



Make no mistake: true magic's going down here.



Ignore at your own risk."
Why isn't he more famous?
Daniel Akst | Hudson Valley | 07/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Extraordinarily fresh and pleasing Latin-infused music by a virtuoso saxophonist who deserves to be far better known. Highly recommended."