Drummer and composer Makaya McCraven calls himself a “beat scientist,” and he lives up to the title (as do other drummers like Kassa Overall and … Read More “Makaya McCraven: In These Times (International Anthem/Nonesuch)”
The Exit Zero Jazz Festival debuted in November 2012 in the national historic landmark city of Cape May, a picturesque beach town on the very … Read More “Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May, NJ”
Beginning with 2001’s The Philadelphia Experiment, then moving onto editions inspired by Detroit and Harlem, producer Aaron Luis Levinson and his local casts (?uestlove, Christian … Read More “The Chicago Experiment: The Chicago Experiment (Ropeadope)”
Look at the sources credited on Makaya McCraven’s Deciphering the Message—Hank Mobley, Kenny Dorham, Horace Silver, Art Blakey—and you could be excused for anticipating another … Read More “Makaya McCraven: Deciphering the Message (Blue Note)”
Chicago-based drummer, composer, edit guru, and jazz adventurist Makaya McCraven recorded this splice-and-dice 22-song opus live in four different cities with a cast including saxophonists … Read More “Makaya McCraven: Universal Beings (International Anthem)”
Apparently, it was a total coincidence that Red Bull Music scheduled its Chicago “round robin” improvisation during the Chicago Jazz Festival. Perhaps also by coincidence, … Read More “Live Review: Red Bull Music Presents Round Robin in Chicago”
Highly Rare has something that really is highly rare: danger. It’s in the cassette-tape fidelity, like an old-school audience bootleg, that second-guesses even the digital … Read More “Makaya McCraven: Highly Rare (International Anthem)”
One of the year’s most mesmerizing releases, there’s a great deal happening on drummer Makaya McCraven’s In the Moment. Its 19 tracks come from his … Read More “Makaya McCraven: In the Moment”
