Chicago-based composer, drummer, and producer Makaya McCraven has over the past half-decade, been one of the most groundbreaking artists in jazz, due to his unique recording approaches and post-production editing and mixing processes. The “jazz beat scientist” has just released an insightful documentary and new material from the same sessions that produced the 2018 critically-acclaimed Universal Beings album.

Released on International Anthem, this fourteen track album, titled Universal Beings E&F Sides, acts an addendum to the original 2018 release, and also is the soundtrack to the 26-minute autobiographical documentary that compliments the sessions. The film explores McCraven’s creative process, through sessions that took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and London, of taking live improvised session recordings and editing them down, chopping them up, and reworking them into shorter segments and grooves. The documentary also touches on McCraven’s multicultural upbringing and the positive influence that his parents, who were also both musicians, have had on him.

Similar the first Universal Beings release, these new tracks explore a wide range of sounds, from spiritual jazz meditations and pulsating hip-hop loops, to hard-hitting post-bop and explosive driving rhythms. Many of the recordings were taken from live sessions, and were recorded in a way that the energy of the room would be subtly captured, giving the album a club-like vibe without over-the-top applause or cheering.

The album is stacked with some of today’s most cutting-edge musicians in jazz, including Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Ashley Henry, Soweto Kinch (London), Tomeka Reid, Dezron Douglas, Brandee Younger (New York), Jeff Parker, Junius Paul (Chicago), Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Josh Johnson, Carlos Niño, Anna Butterss (Los Angeles), and many others.

Overall, this is a brilliant new documentary and recording that gives us strong insight into the creative process, influences, and universal approach from one of jazz’s most forward-thinking artists.

Makaya McCraven — ‘Universal Beings E&F Sides’
(International Anthem)

1. Everybody Cool (New York)
2. Half Steppin’ (London)
3. Mak Attack (London)
4. The Hunt (London)
5. Beat Science (New York)
6. Dadada (Los Angeles)
7. Isms (Chicago)
8. Traveling Space (Chicago)
9. Kings and Queens (Chicago)
10. The Loneliness (Chicago)
11. Her Name (New York)
12. Universal Beings pt 2 (Los Angeles)
13. Butterss Fly (Los Angeles)
14. The Way Home (London)

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