DONNY McCASLIN: Casting for Gravity
Greenleaf, 2012

MODERN FUSION – In-demand saxophonist McCaslin (who grew up in Santa Cruz) has been stretching out his post-bop conception in recent discs. This one has a synthesizer-heavy, retro-futuristic fusion feel that sometimes sounds like modern electronica (4), alternately hard-edged or soft and rounded, with a supple quartet pushed by driving sax solos.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10

1. 7:21 – calm, rising melody and fast, geometric grooves give an ecstatic feel
2. 6:20 – hopscotch sax and evil synths, open in the middle, gathers power
3. 7:40 – soft & cool-toned: a soulful drift through sparkling electronic haze, second half firms up as sax powers through video game landscape
4. 4:14 – cold synths; echo/loop sax pattern emerges, a few electronic bursts
5. 5:51 – spiky groove: sax lets loose in synth/bass grind, bleeps, tough drums
6. 5:52 – angular approach to optimistic, heroically rising tune, keeps building
7. 8:32 – blossoming ballad, starts softly but cries out with sinister undertone
8. 3:58 – low, moody tune with a bit of indie-rock in it, skulks and growls
9. 7:26 – odd-meter percolation; sax solo gets it rolling, synths keep it weird
10. 6:35 – relaxed glide, the most straightforward tune, gentle electric piano

[ Fo ] - 21 October 2012