Mixtape #173

Guitarist and composer Max Walker took us by surprise earlier this year, when his magnificent second album Chronostasis made its way to our ears, and we’ve been under his spell ever since. Intricate and emotionally resonant, the record is a bold reflection on his relocation from Seattle to LA, brimming with dazzling guitar work, a strong sense of rhythm and rich ensemble interplay. A student of jazz and rock in equal measure, Walker also draws from the legacy of guitar greats like Allan Holdsworth and Tim Miller, while carving out a sound entirely his own. So we’re beyond excited to have him take the reins of this month’s mixtape, packed with gems that inspire his singular voice. Press play and enjoy!

  1. Donny McCaslin – Stadium Jazz [Greenleaf Music]
  2. Tim Miller – Lift
  3. John Escreet – He Who Dares [Whirlwind Recordings]
  4. Allan Holdsworth – Above and Below [Polydor / CREAM Records]
  5. Ben Monder – My One and Only Love [Sunnyside]
  6. Jacob Mann, Max Ox – Prom Night
  7. Pat Metheny – Change of Heart [Geffen Records]
  8. Ben van Gelder, Reinier Baas – Charles [Do You Mind?]
  9. Phronesis – Urban Control [Edition Records]
  10. Meshuggah – Do Not Look Down [Nuclear Blast]
  11. Hermeto Pascoal, Miles Davis – Little Church [Columbia]

Donny McCaslin shares final single, ‘Stria’, from upcoming album

We were blown away when we heard ‘Body Blow’, the brilliant and blistering lead single lifted from Donny McCaslin‘s upcoming new album, I Want More. With just over a month to go until the album is out,  the ingenious artist, saxophonist and composer has shared the final single from the record, ‘Stria’, an intoxicating track demonstrating yet again his versatility and virtuosity. Take a listen now.

I Want More is out on June 16th through Edition Records

Donny McCaslin announces new album, I Want More

Photo: Dave Stapleton

With 12 albums and high-profile collaborations to his name, including Grammy award-winning albums such as David Bowie’s Blackstar (2016), Donny McCaslin has been forging a trailblazing career in music for a long time. The ingenious artist, saxophonist and composer has announced the release of a new album. Entitled I Want More, the album “is a monumental and vital addition to the jazz canon”, as the press release describes, “elevating the genre to a new dimension and smashing conventional perceptions of what a jazz album can be.”

I Want More is set for release on June 16th through Edition Records and ahead of it we can already hear the brilliant and blistering lead single ‘Body Blow’. The single comes accompanied by a video directed by Douglas Sloan and you can watch it below.