Donny Does Declare
Scott Williams | Oakland, CA United States | 11/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Overview:
Declaration is an about face from McCaslin's last release "Recommended Tools". "Recommended Tools" features a bare bones gritty trio and focuses on interaction and improvisation. "Declaration" features a large ensemble and showcases McCaslin's composition and arrangement skills as well as an all-star cast of musicians. In some of the tracks you can hear influences of Maria Schneider, who McCaslin has worked with in recent years. The album also features a brass ensemble, which may have been an influence of producer Dave Binney (who features a brass ensemble in his 2009, Third Occasion, or Dave Douglas, another McCaslin employer, who is currently touring with an all brass band, Brass Ecstasy). Regardless of the influences, the results are fantastic. "Declaration" showcases some gorgeous harmony between, McCaslin's sax and the brass ensemble, and dazzling solos. The core band is made up of some of the most gifted musicians of the current generation of jazz. Joining tenor sax player, McCaslin, are Scott Colley on bass, Antonio Sanchez on drums, Ben Monder on guitar, Edward Simon on piano and Pernell Saturnino on percussion. The core group is enhanced by a terrific brass ensemble made up of Marcus Rojas on tuba, Alex "Sasha" Sipiagan on trumpet, Chris Komer on french horn, Marshall Gilkes on trombone, and Tatum Greenblatt, trumpet. Tuba fans for sure will be excited about the inclusion of Rojas, who also recently appeared on Dave Douglas's Spirit Moves.
Song Highlights:
Declaration - This ballad has some absolutely gorgeous harmony. The intertwining tearful intertwining horns lines of McCaslin and tuba player Rojas are magnificent. The brass ensemble and in particular the French Horn really add a lot of texture. This piece more so than any other seems to exude the influences of Maria Schneider.
M - This track opens with a "bossa novaish", repetitive Monder guitar line. Next, a counter-melody is added by pianist, Simon and light brush-work is added by Sanchez on drums. This segues perfectly into a brass line and then the big brass band comes in at once in unison and sets up McCasslin for one of the most ferocious sax solos of 2009. McCasslin starts of slow and builds it up momentum as he showcases his stuff for an extended solo. Eventually McCaslin fades out into nothing and an unaccompanied piano solo/interlude by Simon commences. This song is very well put together from start to finish and exemplifies what this album is all about.
Rock Me - A gratuitous romp for McCaslin and Monder. This is basically a high-energy vehicle for the band to "rock out". Jazz purists might not dig it, but it is a lot of fun.
Late Night Gospel - This tune was my favorite from the trio album "Recommended Tools". While I prefer the gritty, raw trio version, the remake is fantastic. The theme and melody remain the same, but it is a completely different song with the big band. The highlight of the song is at the end when the momentum swells and the big band comes in and just blasts out the theme.
"Declaration" is a great album that gets better each time you listen to it.
"
Donny McCaslin shifts to a larger band
Anthony Cooper | Louisville, KY United States | 11/20/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Donny McCaslin's last CD, "Recommended Tools", was a brawny saxophone trio disc. The follow-up adds a pianist, Edward Simon, a guitarist, Ben Monder, Scott Colley on bass, Antonio Sanchez on drums, and some songs have some combination of Alex Sipiagin, Marcus Rojas, Chris Komer, Marshall Gilkes, and Tatum Greenblatt on their horns. The larger band dulls the impact of McCaslin's playing, but that's fine since McCaslin's writing and the band's performing are very good. The title track is an excellent ballad, and the faster-paced songs are all good. "Late Night Gospel" ends the disc as its title would suggest - with a slower bluesier song.
This is recommended to fans of modern straightahead jazz."
Great album
Evan Connell | 02/17/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Donny's a great player and composer. As a saxophonist I would be content playing with the fluency he does if only by the time I'm twice his age. To the average listener I would imagine this is pretty complex music, but once you start to hear what he's going for you'll never stop smiling."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1