Donny McCaslin
Encyclopedia
Donny McCaslin is an American jazz saxophonist.
McCaslin's father was a vibraphonist
, and he played in his father's ensemble at the age of twelve. He had his own group in high school
which played three years at the Monterey Jazz Festival
. He studied under Paul Contos and Brad Hecht, both of whom played in his father's group. He played in a number of youth ensembles and toured Europe and Japan with them; he was offered a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music
, where he enrolled in 1984. While there he was influenced by Gary Burton
, Herb Pomeroy
, Billy Pierce
, George Garzone
, and Joe Viola. McCaslin performed regularly in Boston and Cambridge with The True Colors Big Band, run by composer Ken Schaphorst. In 1987 he joined Burton's group and toured the world with him for four years.
In 1991 he moved to New York City
and was a member of Steps Ahead
until 1994, replacing Michael Brecker
. He also played with the Gil Evans
Orchestra, the George Gruntz
Concert Jazz Band, Danilo Perez
, Maria Schneider
, and Santi DeBriano
. In 1996 he played on Ken Schaphorst
's Uprising, alongside John Medeski
, Doug Yates
, and Uri Caine
. The following year he played with David Binney
, Scott Colley
, and Kenny Wolleson on the collaboration Lan Xang
. In 2006 he joined the Dave Douglas
Quintet. In 2010 he recorded as a featured soloist on the CD Coming Through Slaughter - The Bolden Legend. His first record as a leader appeared in 1998, and he has continued issuing releases under his own name into the late 2000s.
McCaslin's father was a vibraphonist
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
, and he played in his father's ensemble at the age of twelve. He had his own group in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
which played three years at the Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the longest consecutively running jazz festivals. It debuted on October 3, 1958 and was founded by San Francisco jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons.-History:...
. He studied under Paul Contos and Brad Hecht, both of whom played in his father's group. He played in a number of youth ensembles and toured Europe and Japan with them; he was offered a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, where he enrolled in 1984. While there he was influenced by Gary Burton
Gary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
, Herb Pomeroy
Herb Pomeroy
Irving Herbert "Herb" Pomeroy, III was an influential swing and bebop jazz trumpeter and educator...
, Billy Pierce
Billy Pierce
Walter William Pierce is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Chicago White Sox. He was the team's star pitcher between 1952 and 1961, and was named the American League's top pitcher in 1956 and 1957 after being runner-up in both 1953...
, George Garzone
George Garzone
George Garzone is a saxophonist and jazz educator residing in New York city.Saxophonist George Garzone is a member of The Fringe, a jazz trio founded in 1972 that includes bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Gullotti, that performs regularly in the Boston area and has toured world wide. The...
, and Joe Viola. McCaslin performed regularly in Boston and Cambridge with The True Colors Big Band, run by composer Ken Schaphorst. In 1987 he joined Burton's group and toured the world with him for four years.
In 1991 he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was a member of Steps Ahead
Steps Ahead
Steps Ahead is a jazz fusion group and the brainchild of vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. According to the liner notes of the group's 1983 debut album , entitled Steps Ahead, "Steps began as a part-time venture in 1979 at Seventh Avenue South, a New York City nightclub." The group began releasing...
until 1994, replacing Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
. He also played with the Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
Orchestra, the George Gruntz
George Gruntz
George Gruntz is a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist and composer most noteworthy for his work with artists such as Phil Woods, Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin and Mel Lewis.From 1972 to 1994 he served as artistic director for...
Concert Jazz Band, Danilo Perez
Danilo Pérez
Danilo Pérez is a Panamanian pianist and composer.-Early life:Danilo Pérez was born in Panama in 1965. He is considered one of the finest contemporary pianists and jazz composers of our era....
, Maria Schneider
Maria Schneider (musician)
Maria Schneider is an American arranger, composer, and big-band leader who has won multiple awards. In 2005, her album Concert in the Garden won a Grammy for "Best Large Ensemble Album"...
, and Santi DeBriano
Santi Debriano
Santi Wilson Debriano is a jazz bassist.Debriano was raised in Brooklyn, having moved there with his family at age four. He studied composition at Union College in New York, then attended the New England Conservatory of Music and Wesleyan University...
. In 1996 he played on Ken Schaphorst
Ken Schaphorst
Ken Schaphorst is a composer, performer, and educator currently chairing the Jazz Studies and Improvisation Department at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Before moving to Boston in 2001, Schaphorst served as Director of Jazz Studies at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin for ten years...
's Uprising, alongside John Medeski
John Medeski
Anthony John Medeski is an American jazz keyboards player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood...
, Doug Yates
Doug Yates
Doug Yates has been around the sound of revving engines for as long as he can remember. As the son of engine builder and team owner Robert Yates, Doug possesses a passion for stock car racing that is unmatched by others...
, and Uri Caine
Uri Caine
Uri Caine is an American classical and jazz pianist and composer.-Early years:The son of Burton Caine, a professor at Temple Law School, Caine began playing piano at seven and studied with French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer at 12. He later studied at the University of Pennsylvania where he came...
. The following year he played with David Binney
David Binney
David Binney is an American alto saxophonist and composer living in New York City.-Biography:David was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Southern California. His parents were jazz fans, and introduced Binney to jazz musicians such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson and Wayne Shorter...
, Scott Colley
Scott Colley
Scott Colley is an American jazz bassist and Composer.Scott has performed extensively in bands led by: Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Andrew Hill, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Pat Metheny, Carmen McRae, Edward Simon, Adam Rogers, Brian Blade, David Binney, Antonio Sanchez, Kenny Werner...
, and Kenny Wolleson on the collaboration Lan Xang
Lan Xang
The Lao kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Kao was established in 1354 by Fa Ngum.Exiled as an infant to Cambodia, Prince Fa Ngum of Xieng Dong Xieng Thong married a daughter of the Khmer king. In 1349 he set out from Angkor at the head of a 10,000-man army to establish his own country...
. In 2006 he joined the Dave Douglas
Dave Douglas (trumpeter)
Dave Douglas is an American jazz trumpeter and composer whose music derives from many non-jazz musical styles, including classical music, folk music from European countries and Klezmer. He has been a member of the experimental big band Orange Then Blue...
Quintet. In 2010 he recorded as a featured soloist on the CD Coming Through Slaughter - The Bolden Legend. His first record as a leader appeared in 1998, and he has continued issuing releases under his own name into the late 2000s.
Solo discography
- Exile & Discovery (Naxos RecordsNaxos RecordsNaxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
, 1998) - Seen From Above (Arabesque RecordsArabesque RecordsArabesque Records is an American classical and jazz record label.Arabesque began as a classical music subsidiary of the Caedmon company. In 1988, Marvin Reiss and Ward Botsford bought the company, turning it into an independent, and continued releasing classical until 1992, when it switched focuses...
, 2000) - The Way Through (Arabesque, 2003)
- Give 'N Go (Criss Cross JazzCriss Cross JazzCriss Cross Jazz is a Dutch jazz record label, specializing in American jazz.Criss Cross was founded in 1980 by Gerry Teekens, a drummer and German professor. The label, which releases about 20 albums per year, is noted for its simple, block-color cover art...
, 2006) - Soar (Sunnyside RecordsSunnyside RecordsSunnyside Records is an American jazz record label.Sunnyside was founded in 1982 by Francois Zalacain and Christine Berthet. Its early releases consisted primarily of piano solo material and ensembles without drums, but in later years has broadened its selection of material.-Artists who have...
, 2006) - In Pursuit (Sunnyside, 2007)
- Recommended Tools (Greenleaf MusicGreenleaf MusicGreenleaf Music is an independent jazz record label owned by American trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas. Founded in 2005 by Douglas and Mike Friedman, Greenleaf Music has released albums by Dave Douglas, Donny McCaslin, Nicole Mitchell / Harrison Bankhead / Hamid Drake, Kneebody, Michael Bates, and...
, 2008) - Declaration (Sunnyside, 2009)
- Perpetual Motion (Greenleaf MusicGreenleaf MusicGreenleaf Music is an independent jazz record label owned by American trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas. Founded in 2005 by Douglas and Mike Friedman, Greenleaf Music has released albums by Dave Douglas, Donny McCaslin, Nicole Mitchell / Harrison Bankhead / Hamid Drake, Kneebody, Michael Bates, and...
, 2010)