Donny McCaslin: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Bob Boilen | January 9, 2017 - David Bowie had long wanted to make a record with a jazz band, and on Jan. 8 of last year, he realized his dream with the release of Blackstar. Two days later, he was gone. Donny McCaslin's band helped him make that record, and now, a year later, we pay tribute to Bowie and Blackstar by bringing McCaslin's band to the Tiny Desk.
It's been exciting to see jazz find its way into the broader music world in recent years; think Kendrick Lamar and hip-hop in general. Musicians such as McCaslin often play in their own small circuit, but have much to offer popular music. As a bandleader and sax player, he's put out a dozen albums, the most recent of which is Beyond Now, with musicians Tim Lefebvre on bass, drummer Mark Guiliana and keyboardist Jason Lindner.
Beyond Now was recorded after Blackstar, features a few Bowie covers and stretches the band's own usual boundaries. For this Tiny Desk concert, you can hear an extraordinary group playing extraordinary music - including an instrumental version of "Lazarus," from Blackstar. Just as Bowie brought these musicians into his rock-leaning world, I hope this set takes you down McCaslin's jazz path.
Beyond Now is available now:
iTunes: itunes.apple.c...
Amazon: www.amazon.com...
SET LIST
"Shake Loose"
"Lazarus" (David Bowie)
"Glory"
MUSICIANS
Donny McCaslin (saxophone); Jason Lindner (keys); Tim Lefebvre (bass); Mark Guiliana (drums).
CREDITS
Producers: Bob Boilen, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Nicole Boliaux; Production Assistant: Anna Marketti; Photo: Raquel Zaldivar/NPR.
For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast: www.npr.org/pod...

[@davidcranfield2197]

I am an old man. I grew up with Sinatra. But this new breed of jazz musician makes me feel young again. Donny's personal narrative is so strong, and his players clearly all virtuoso's. I am in awe at this new generation of story-tellers. Thank you Donny. And thank you NPR for bringing this to us.

[@cruenket]

the ending that the piano does reaffirms what you say a lot 25:57

[@mrkyburzy]

Mark Guiliana and Donny Mccaslin are so fucking dynamic

[@danrosati3779]

I was listening to the Jazz Greats in the 1950's that critic's said would never be matched ever!!!!!!! Well Donny and his group are just as exciting and creative and the critics also said back then Jazz would die with the deaths of Monk, Ellington, Bird, Coltrane, etc!! Well in 2019 it is as strong as ever with these young creative jazz musicians. Jazz was always about "creating" and pushing the boundaries and this group does it and are so ver entertaining!!!!!

[@z-pray7460]

Such a connection between the kick and the bass. I can't tell where one ends and one begins.

[@be9nz]

Mark has such a sick style. Love his work.

[@hbloops]

Love this bass player!

[@tinolorenz6996]

sadly he died in episode 5...

[@gmoney6147]

Just experienced some major chills listening to Lazarus....wow, just wow.

[@thebigcheese2416]

Gahh this is out of this world. I bet Bowie is smiling down on this TDC. Super special stuff.

[@boneworksnmotion]

Yes Donny!!! Plays his behind off! Fantastic musician. :)

[@surkyburky]

I had the wonderful honor to perform alongside with Donny with my collegiate jazz ensemble. Cannot express how much of a wonderful person he is, and how greatly assuring it is to have someone like him put his hand on your shoulder after you think you did sort of “meh” on a performance only for him to say “hey, great job man. You did a really good job tonight”. While he probably didn’t think much in that moment, it certainly made a big impact on me and it made me feel a lot better about myself that night.

[@damienvalenzuela6786]

Donny has heart man.

[@Noah-ci1oi]

really love jason lindner's solo

[@seanmcmorris]

It's cool to see someone you know performing on Tiny Desk. Congratulations Donny! The band sounds great. Glory was a beautiful closer. Cheers!

[@13taraliane]

God damn. God DAMN. This is so tight.

[@shank0022]

That shit Mark does at around 1:59 with the transition always blows my mind

[@benhewy3775]

Great music! Reminds me of Brian Blade and The Fellowship Band

[@samferguson9171]

Lefevre's bass tone is TOIGHT.

[@drewrushlow1820]

One of the best!

[@charleswalter3075]

Fantastic! How did I manage not to hear of this guy (or his band) until now?

[@jarhat]

was just asking myself the same thing!

[@ireneruthfox]

Very nice......Tim is killing it on bass as always.

[@tiagomartins5755]

Beautiful tunes and outstanding musicians, all of them!

[@Ryan-di2kw]

I have no idea why this music is so appealing to me, like I never have any clue whats happening but I love it

[@BrunoNeureiter]

I don't think they know either

[@cymbolic_space1832]

you got soul cousin

[@nishantjdrums]

That transition at 4:10! So damn glorious.

[@tiluriso]

Awesome band, amazing chemistry.

[@burroughs334]

Gotta love that spooky ring mod on the bass in the 3 minute zone. I always loved Tim Lefebvre from his days playing with Wayne Krantz. He's playing with everyone these days. nice to see. Excellent players. This is a hell of a journey.

[@giri.goyo_yt]

Graduated a little after me at my high school. Kid genius. He's amazing. Now bolstered by the power of Bowie, he is a rising star. So hot.

[@dand2990]

Very fantastic concert. Everyone are great.

[@miste.remusic]

At Berklee College of Music, I saw this band twice at the Regattabar, tripping on acid. Learned more in those two nights than two years of classes.

[@SPGGuitar251]

Fantastic. Would have loved to have heard Ben Monder with the group, too. He played on some of the Bowie material, too.

[@POsomething]

Yeah, I agree. He's got his own jazz group though, so that explains why he wasn't there. He did an amazing job playing the solo on I Can't Give Everything Away!

[@aaronlebos]

this is just incredible, Lindner expanding worlds. I mean everyone of course but Jason wow

[@jzreplacement3195]

Total pleasure!

[@acandycoloredclown7005]

Only David Bowie would wander into a jazz club and the result was a golden record, RIP man

[@albertoegoavil]

Thank you...!!!!!

[@garsonino]

Npr amazes me. Can't count the many times where I discovered an artist to then see that they have made a tiny desk. Simply amazing thanks you

[@simongentry]

just stunning.

[@rmoraespinto]

F*cK! This is an effing piece of music to listen to at 3 am! The best in months that I go through YT trying to find something new and that still makes me smile and dance! Thanks for upping!

[@JudgeHolden13]

so good

[@johnreed9435]

Saw the Donny in Seattle recently at the Benaroya with the Blackstar Orchestra. AAA+++

[@bigmazey]

Awesome. Saw him play live on June at Bowie convention. The man is a genius

[@arjunchakraborty2206]

I see that sparkling Ornette Coleman influence in Donny's horn.....

[@galeonasavage1339]

great Sound

[@ton2589]

Great show!!!

[@alexismoma]

This is something that can truly be described as EPIC by the way, I have wonder so many times, how much time does it take to clean the Tiny Desk space? it has so much little things! Thank you for such a great production and space for gorgeous music.

[@mickyfinch9274]

So, so good. Great musicians. Tim Lefebvre was last there with Tedeschi Trucks Band - and that was a great set too! Thank you Mr. Boilen.

[@rillloudmother]

I used to see Jason Lidner Big Band Monday night aty Small's in the late 90s. Amazing then, Amazing now.

[@Shamanysm]

Awesome.

[@Hyalinaproductions]

Sounds great!

[@dhutton77]

Thanks, Tiny Desk, for another great discovery for me.

[@tleuven]

Why can I only like this once, and not two, three, four, five, six ... times? Amazing group. :)

[@aceengler1125]

Wish david was still alive to sing with them! RIP

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love it!!

[@rillloudmother]

McCaslin has such a sweet tone.

[@JazzAndChocolate]

Love you, Donny! Everything you play is so familiar, yet so fresh and surprising. You are pure heart and sole, with just a smidgen of technique thrown in for good measure. (Just kidding about the "smidgen.") It is wonderful and awe-inspiring to see how you've grown musically over the years., and continue to expand your musical universe. Thanks for the beautiful tribute to David Bowie. I'm sure he would be proud of you. Love, Laura Michele

[@miloscoopy2469]

Masterfull...highest level of musicianship

[@BayBryan]

WONDERFUL set --thanks for sharing :)

[@shnootch]

great keys, along with all else, of course!

[@Mictlan.x]

Brilliant!

[@tp22140]

It's great to see thet "Beyond, Donny Saxo......

[@sanpon1421]

Magnificent!

[@johnderose6741]

Great band! Loved their version of David Bowie's Lazarus!

[@ummaeummae]

Very very very good play !!

[@claussenmusic]

Donny McCaslin is the god damn MAN!

[@Soudafloresta]

mind blowing

[@inaciobrito4506]

emocionadíssimo com essa versão de lazarus.

[@robhodges6019]

Yo! This is tremendous!

[@beholden1663]

Awesome modern jazz. I love the keyboards-almost has a progressive rock feel to it.

[@ansonstiles]

Judging by his neck I would say Donny's spirit animal is some kind of deep ocean puffer fish or lowland swamp bullfrog

[@SedentaryArtist]

Fantastique!

[@filipdinevmusic]

how killing is this...

[@oilstalker]

These guys should present themselves as Blackstar Quartet. Massive sound...

[@FreakShreek]

This band is DOPE! Donny #FTW

[@luvmamusic]

Wow they're very unique!!

[@qwertyuiop32935]

One day I hope to be able to play that high in tune. Or that high in general lol

[@tshewoo]

Hot damn ! Yes !

[@emanuelbaziliopecanharodri6578]

Great band !

[@lucasadolfsson6939]

Cool stuff!

[@pepinorer]

...small space great music...

[@nicolas5396]

This is awesome

[@37wagnerlima]

show!

[@Crinklechip-s]

Righteous.

[@lau-zk2cc]

wow!!!

[@frankliyonelyndaleciopered7380]

is wonderfull music

[@37wagnerlima]

excelente!

[@crazyfunawesome]

That first song just cured my nasal congestion.

[@kiriharamusic5976]

Very nice music!

[@pranavquackerson831]

Here for Mark

Lástima que no pude ver el pasado concierto en Madrid

[@stevedambrosio5022]

Donny's playing is so outrageously amazing that I'm not even going to comment on it. But does anyone know where to get that neckstrap? It looks like a great improvement on the saxlab one.

[@baseballfan105k]

Lazarus hits ya right in the plums. Damn fine music

[@DavidHimmelPerforms]

This is by far and away the most reserved version of Shake Loose I've heard -- but it's still dope AF!

[@ScisaacFisaac]

"Shake Loose" almost sounds a bit like an instrumental medley of pretty much all of Blackstar.

[@TheManuelpuerta]

22:30 wuuuuuuuuuhhhh

[@bazinmaxime5243]

some serious line up !

[@greenmarcosu]

This reminds me of Cowboy Bebop in the best possible way :)

[@moloney55]

I read this during 2nd song and wasn't sure what you meant. Then 3rd song started and I was like "Ok I hear it now"

Muy interesante esta pequeña ó gran evolución del Jazz, siempre sorprende, y buenos músicos

[@drbas81]

just excelent!

[@ronancortez]

Top!!!

[@HarveyKarate]

13:15 and 22:55 are the most killer fills by mark

[@shatter3897]

Bass face @ 1:45 Tim's the man!

[@ДаняРэм]

R.I.P. Starman

[@J4KETS]

Man Tim is doing the rounds at the moment.