Tenor Saxist Donny McCaslin has formed a respectable career balancing his solo ventures with his chair in Marie Schneider’s Orchestra. Here, he stretches his boundaries by playing also the flute, alto flute and clarinet as well as allowing David Binney to produce the album. The difference created is a more electronic and synthesized affair, taking material influenced by Brian Eno and David Bowie from the days of Heroes and Low.
Keyboards by Jason Lindner, electric bass from Tim Lefebvre, synths by Binney and drums from Mark Guiliana create fusion moods for McCaslin’s tenor on “Shake Loose” while a metallic feel with a synthesized pulse dominates along with Jeff Taylors vocals on “A Small Plot of Land.” A solemn and spacey “Warszawa” and moody “Beyond Now” mix electronics and sax pulsed along with Guiliana’s ride cymbal, while fuzzy guitar and thick bass wrestle with McCaslin on “Faceplant.” The most jazz piece, “Remain” is a dreamy creation with McCaslin floating like a Nimbus cloud. A gutsy endeavor that is a major boundary stretcher, and you ‘ve got to give McCaslin credit for searching for new worlds to conquer.