The drummer, producer, and sonic collagist Makaya McCraven is currently one of Chicago’s most in-demand artists whose inventive process & intuitive, cinematic style defy categorization. Being deemed a true innovator McCraven brilliantly moves between genres and pushes the boundaries of jazz, electronica, composition and rhythm to create forms of his own.

His breakthrough album In the Moment was released with International Anthem Recording in January of 2015 and quickly seen as a dramatic statement by McCraven, where he debuted a unique brand of “organic beat music” that quickly launched him into the vanguard of not only Internationally-known jazz artists, but also a niche genre of next-wave composer-producers blurring the boundaries of jazz & electronic music. Following his impressive debut McCraven followed a string on incredible releases including 2018’s widely-popular Universal Beings (International Anthem) and We’re New Again, his rework of Gil Scott-Heron’s final album for XL Recordings. McCraven lastly released Deciphering the Message – a collection of 13 pieces from Blue Note Records extensive catalogue, rearranged and remixed with the new sound. The album was released in October 2021 on Blue Note Records.

In These Times is the new and seventh (!) album (released September 23, 2022) via the three-label collaboration of International Anthem, Nonesuch & XL Recordings. In These Times features several notable guest performances, including guitarist Jeff Parker, harpist Brandee Younger, and Ohmme’s Macie Stewart. Junius Paul, Marta Sofia Honer, and Lia Kohl are also among those joining the Chicago-based percussionist.

Hip-hop breakouts, machine music and sumptuous strings vie with out-and-out jazz brilliance on the US drummer-producer’s latest – The Guardian

Makaya McCraven (drums)

Marquis Hill (trumpet)

Junius Paul (bass)

Matt Gold (guitar)