A 2004 Grammy nominee for his solo work on Maria Schneider's Concert "In The Garden," Donny McCaslin performs more often as a sideman extraordinaire (Steps Ahead, Danilo Perez, Brian Blade, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Mingus Orchestra) than as a leader. On his fourth solo album and Criss Cross leader debut, the 39-year-old saxophonist/composer, joined by an A-list quintet (John Swana, trumpet; Steve Gardenas, guitar; Scott Colley, bass; Gene Jackson, drums) presents seven melodic, harmonically meaty originals and a fresh arrangement of Thelonious Monk's "Eronel."