All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Because we had been playing so much, it felt pretty natural just to go into the studio and do this. While the record represented an endpoint for the legendary artist, it also marked a new beginning for jazz lifer donny mccaslin who, armed with his saxophone, defined blackstar s visionary stylistic fusion. Donny mccaslin biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. After helping david bowie realize his harrowing final statement blackstar, saxophonist donny mccaslin offers a bracing record with two bowie tunes and a pair of covers of electronic acts. Mar 02, 2017 recording with david bowie left a mark on jazz sax player donny mccaslin.
Tiny desk concert hear mccaslin, the saxophonist and bandleader whose group backed david bowie on blackstar, near the anniversary of that albums release. The artistry of sax maestro donny mccaslin has been hurtling toward the frontier of jazz over the last five years. The inspiring part for me was davids absolute openness as an artist and fearlessness in taking down barriers, mccaslin says. Donny mccaslin pays homage to collaborator david bowie on. For more than two decades, protean saxist and composer donny mccaslin has relentlessly expanded his musical purview in a variety of ensemble settings, both as a sideman to dave douglas, maria. Ew talked to blackstar collaborator and jazz saxophonist donny mccaslin just days after the records release and bowies death to find out what went on behind the scenes during those recording. Oct, 2016 this is the powerful leftfield new york jazz band that played on david bowies blackstar, fronted by saxophonist donny mccaslin, whos due at the london jazz festival on 15 nov. In november, brooklyn saxophonist donny mccaslin got a. Saxophonist donny mccaslins fiercely creative quartet chosen by david bowie to play on blackstar, the album that would be his swansong.
Mccaslin speaks about his experience with bowie sitting in 55 bar, the micro greenwich village jazz club where bowie first heard the musician perform back in 2014. Dec 29, 2016 ew talked to blackstar collaborator and jazz saxophonist donny mccaslin just days after the records release and bowies death to find out what went on behind the scenes during those recording. Historically this name can be found in the bible, as the name of the third son of king david, who was killed for rebellion against his father. This is the powerful leftfield new york jazz band that played on david bowies blackstar, fronted by saxophonist donny mccaslin, whos due at the london jazz festival on 15 nov. Donny mccaslin is known for his work on david bowie. Join napster and access fulllength songs on your phone, computer or home audio device. Jan 22, 2016 in a famous 1976 interview with rolling stone, david bowie explained his desire to be superhuman. Despite mccaslins extensive, acclaimed career he grew up gigging with his fathers jazz ensembles in santa cruz, california, attended bostons esteemed berklee college of music, and began his recording career in the late 90s collaborating with bowie altered how he approached his craft. The leader of david bowies last band releases an album inspired by and dedicated to the legendary altpop innovator.
Donny was the first sax player i saw play at berklee when i went there to check out the school. In a famous 1976 interview with rolling stone, david bowie explained his desire to be superhuman. Subsequently he would play saxophone on bowies 2016 album blackstar. A graduate of the berklee school of music, donny mccaslin born donald paul mccaslin has had a saxophone in his hands from his earliest years and has integrated the entire range of sounds that a tenor sax can produce into his repertoire. Recording with david bowie left a mark on jazz sax player donny. Saxophone star donny mccaslin was the perfect choice to. He has recorded over a dozen albums as a bandleader in addition to many sideman appearances, and came to wider prominence when english rock singer david bowie hired mccaslins ensemble as his backing band for blackstar, his final studio album. Once again embracing an alternative, vocallydriven sound, the. Saxophonist donny mccaslin continues to push jazzs boundaries.
Recording with david bowie left a mark on jazz sax player. In 1987 mccaslin joined burtons group and toured the world with him for four years. Oct 28, 2016 after helping david bowie realize his harrowing final statement blackstar, saxophonist donny mccaslin offers a bracing record with two bowie tunes and a pair of covers of electronic acts. Oct 04, 2016 n ine months have passed since david bowies death, but his last collaborator, donny mccaslin, still has to pause when he talks about it.
Mark guiliana with donny mccaslin stadium jazz youtube. Shortly after seeing that show, bowie chose mccaslins band to back him on his final album. While the record represented an endpoint for the legendary artist, it also marked a new beginning for jazz lifer donny mccaslin who, armed with his saxophone, defined blackstars visionary stylistic fusion. Mccaslin on tenor saxophone against a spooky stir of keyboards, bass and drums, evoked the mood of david bowies last album, blackstar. Saxophone star donny mccaslin was the perfect choice to help shape david bowies sonic epitaph. He was playing in the performance center and played a solo on there will never be another you i was blown away by his playing so muchand everybodys elses playing that went there that i decided to leave my old college and become a small fish in a big pond. Dont tell donny we like it that much, says guiliana with a snicker. Donny mccaslincasting for gravity, says who youtube. The root of the ancient dalriadanscottish name mccaslin is the gaelic form of absolom, which means peace. With his upcoming studio album a daring fusion of vibrant electronica, and bombastic altrock due this fall mccaslin applied that mindset to his own work.
Despite mccaslins extensive, acclaimed career he grew up gigging with his fathers jazz ensembles in santa cruz, california, attended bostons esteemed. Donny mccaslins quartet, fresh off the release of bowies. Shake loose begins the album, opening with a thumping funky rhythm over which donny mccaslins saxophone flies. Blackstar was a pivotal moment for me, he says with some. Aug 29, 2016 now, mccaslins quartet have recorded beyond now, to be released on motema music on oct. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates and promotional offers. Home about tour news music video gallery contact store. Saxophone star donny mccaslin was the perfect choice to help. August 9, 20 donny mccaslin is an imposingly tall fellow and one of the nicest guys youll ever meet and who wields a sax like few others. Generally most mixing of electronic and jazz has a sort of novel quality to it. Tiny desk concert hear mccaslin, the saxophonist and bandleader whose group backed david bowie on blackstar, near the. In 1991 he moved to new york city and was a member of steps ahead. In the midst of a deep exploration of edm, mccaslin followed up blackstar with beyond now, which featured the same core group, capitalizing on a bright global spotlight now following his every move. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon.
Deeply influenced by his extraordinary experience collaborating with david bowie on his final release, blackstar, donny mccaslin steps forward with beyond now, a heartfelt dedication to the starman. I always like to say a few words about the supporting cast of a given album, this album features. Nov 06, 2012 from the donny mccaslin album casting for gravity greenleaf music donny mccaslin. Prior to the first recording sessions, david had sent me demos that he had made of six or seven songs and i was immersing myself, trying. In november 2014, mccaslin played saxophone on david bowies single sue or in a season of crime. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Jason lindner keyboardelectronics matt clohesy bass itunes. I was thinking a lot about david when we were recording, mccaslin says. Get donny mccaslin setlists view them, share them, discuss them with other donny mccaslin fans for free on. Jul, 2015 vf artist mark guiliana performs stadium jazz with donny mccaslin at the regattabar in boston, ma. Prime members enjoy free twoday delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, tv shows, original audio series, and kindle books. I think the electronic influence is more overt on fast future, mccaslin says in a phone interview from new york city.
From the donny mccaslin album casting for gravity greenleaf music donny mccaslin. In november, brooklyn saxophonist donny mccaslin got a taste of that. Donny mccaslin concert setlists sign in to get statistics for your attended concerts. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from donny mccaslin at the discogs marketplace. While the record represented an endpoint for the legendary artist, it marked a new beginning for jazz lifer donny mccaslin who, armed with his saxophone and the distinctive sound of his band, played a key role in defining blackstars visionary stylistic fusion. Apr 01, 2017 when tenor and soprano saxophonist donny mccaslin and his groupkeyboardist jason lindner, bassist jonathan maron, and drummer zach danzigertake the stage at zankel hall, its a sure bet that at least some in the audience will be there because of david bowie. For more than two decades, protean saxist and composer donny mccaslin has relentlessly expanded his musical purview in a variety of ensemble settings. Donny was influenced deeply by his experience collaborating with bowie, and the album is dedicated to his memory. Donny mccaslin continues the reinvention heard on his album blow. As the bandleader on david bowies final album blackstar, saxophonist donny mccaslin witnessed firsthand the musicians penchant for reinvention. Donny mccaslin with john patitucci at the 2018 monterey jazz festival photo.
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