Donny McCaslin Quartet live at Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Munich, 2010

Donny McCaslin - Tenor Saxophone
Uri Caine - Piano
Scott Colley - Bass
Antonio Sanchez - Drums
Unterfahrt München, November 14, 2010

1. M (Donny McCaslin)
2. Fat Cat (Donny McCaslin)
3. Memphis Redux (Donny McCaslin)

Following the sparse tenor trio album Recommended Tools, Perpetual Motion (released on Greenleaf Music) is a 180° turn for McCaslin. Never sounding more confident, McCaslin delves into angular post-bop, blistering polyphonic funk, backbeat-driven R&B, and delicate, ethereal balladry, all without compromising his distinct compositional voice.

Electronic elements are well-represented here: Adam Benjamin (Kneebody, Dave Douglas’ Keystone) conjures the Rings of Saturn with his highly modulated Fender Rhodes, bassist Tim Lefebvre punches sub-octave squarewave fuzz, and producer David Binney contributes his own synth sonics occasionally. All of this on a bed of deep drum grooves—that duty split between the masterful Antonio Sanchez and Mark Guiliana. Guest musician Uri Caine makes appearances as well, contributing his unique Fender Rhodes and piano playing to the tracks including the emphatic record closer.