Donny McCaslin

About

Saxophonist Donny McCaslin, widely acclaimed for his pivotal role on David Bowie’s opus Blackstar, returns with Lullaby for the Lost, a bold new album that leans into a guitardriven, rock-influenced aesthetic over the course of nine dynamic and emotionally charged compositions. Embracing expanded sonic textures and fearless exploration, McCaslin continues to venture into uncharted musical territory on his 14th release as a leader, released September 26, 2025 via Edition Records.

Following his acclaimed I Want More (2023), McCaslin doubles down on the visceral power of a live band energy, sculpting improvised moments into focused, progressive songs, where emotional resonance meets compositional clarity. “The balance of expressing passion, anger, and the wonder of beauty, while striving for oneness with the band has led to this moment,” McCaslin explains.

The record draws from diverse influences, from Neil Young’s primal energy – whose “Rockin’ in the Free World” performance on Saturday Night Live McCaslin calls “an iconic moment in music history” – to the industrial punch of Nine Inch Nails and the righteous roar of Rage Against the Machine. These influences shape tracks like the single “Wasteland”, where McCaslin’s saxophone approaches the intensity of a lead vocal, delivering lines that burn through the mix with the same fire he brought to Bowie’s final masterwork.

McCaslin recorded the album with his long-term collaborators: Jason Lindner on keyboards, Tim Lefebvre on bass (who also serves as producer), Jonathan Maron on bass, Zach Danziger and Nate Wood on drums, and Ben Monder on guitar. Their shared versatility and deep musical rapport allow for a seamless fusion of raw rock intensity with nuanced, exploratory sophistication that defines the album’s sound.