McCaslin Shines at Monterey Jazz

Festival Features Host of Legendary Musicians and New Phenoms

By Jon Chown

MONTEREY — Aptos High School graduate Donny McCaslin played an intense one-hour set at the Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday, his wild sound crashing into an audience that was not entirely ready for it.

Between flurries of notes, McCaslin’s saxophone would sometimes shriek and other times roar and bellow. When he was silent, there was generally either a cascade of drums and cymbals with Mark Guiliana frantically working his kit, or an electric vibe emanating from Jason Linder’s keyboard that sounded as if it were from some other planet. Often, all three were jamming at maximum warp speed while bassist Tim Lefebvre kept them on track.

For the majority of the audience that had expected what was coming, it was a thrilling ride. But for some of those that had wound up in the wrong place or just hadn’t heard or even read about McCaslin’s music, the journey was too much.

“I don’t know why anybody would be leaving,” said Diana Davis after having to leave her seat to let somebody get by. “This is amazing.”

Davis, a big fan of David Bowie, had come from Tennessee to see the festival and specifically wanted to see McCaslin. McCaslin and his band recorded Bowie’s final album “Blackstar” with him. McCaslin noted that some of the material he was playing was inspired by his time with Bowie.

At the end of his hour-long performance in Dizzy’s Den, McCaslin, 50, gave a shout out to Santa Cruz and his friends and family in the audience. McCaslin noted how he had sort of grown up at the Monterey Jazz Festival, playing the event three times as a teen while a member of the New Generation Jazz Orchestra. He was able to play with Bill Moody and even Dizzy Gillespie and it gave him a great deal of confidence.

“I’m grateful for the festival for its tradition of great music and education,” he said.

That tradition continued in the event’s 59th year. Beginning on Friday with a Tribute to Quincy Jones and finishing with a stellar performance by Pat Methany on Sunday night. In between, the Monterey Jazz Festival again featured some of the biggest, newest and oldest names in jazz: Branford Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Wayne Shorter, Maceo Parker, Dave Grusin, Stanley Cowell, Bill Frisell, Kamasi Washington, Randy Brecker and many others.

“This is such an amazing festival,” said Arnold Lee of Riverside, Calif. “I try to come every year and I’m never disappointed.”