Donny McCaslin Group

“McCaslin’s lithe, combustible quartet....has a bedrock relationship with groove, but also a genius for permutation….Beginning with a synthesizer throb in free tempo, it gathered a rolling fervor with a tenor solo that felt both tempestuous and prayerful.”—New York Times

Ever-expressive jazz tenor sax sensation Donny McCaslin returns with the electrifying band that backed David Bowie on his riveting final album, Blackstar. Their performance on that record, a haunting elegiac meditation released on Bowie’s birthday and just two days before his death in early 2016, has gained them worldwide attention beyond the jazz world—and rightly so. Thrilling critics and audiences alike with its rich textural layering, deft incorporation of electronics, and dynamic rhythmic punch, this four-piece group also shines when performing McCaslin’s own forward-thinking music, showcased on his latest release, Beyond Now.

This experience of being Bowie’s final collaborators has had a profound effect on McCaslin and the band, who dedicate Beyond Now to the innovative rock icon. The record features a pair of Bowie covers, “Warszawa” and “A Small Plot of Land,” alongside a version of Deadmau5’s “Coelacanth I” and new originals. Joining McCaslin is Jason Lindner on keyboards, Nate Wood of Kneebody on electric bass, and drummer Mark Guiliana, who thrilled Wex fans with Brad Mehldau in their synth-friendly duo Mehliana. McCaslin is a big favorite with Wex jazz fans from his past visits here with Dave Douglas or when leading his own bands. Don’t miss this opportunity to see him in top form, and at a fascinating moment in his career.