Makaya McCraven – Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape)
Jazz is not dead, not even close. Not only is it thriving at this moment, the sound is evolving and speaking to a whole new generation of listeners. The evidence couldn’t be more clearer than on Makaya McCraven’s new recording Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape), which brings together two of the most vibrant scenes in jazz today, Chicago and London.
Bandleader, drummer, and Chicago’s own McCraven has put together and released what might possibly be the best record of 2018. Recorded live last October over two days at London’s Total Refreshment Centre, the drummer performed alongside some of the best musicians currently coming out of London including Nubya Garcia (saxophone), Soweto Kinch (saxophone and voice), Theon Cross (tuba), Joe Armon-Jones (keys), and Kamaal Williams (keys).
After the two days of live performances, McCraven and some great producers/remixers from both London and Chicago including Emma-Jean Thackray, Lefto, Ben Lamar Gay, Quiet Dawn, and Don Leisure & Earl Jeffers (of Darkhouse Family) remixed the recorded material during the final day of the summit during a live beat-making and battle session known as “Fresh Roasted.” This part of the process was just as important to the mixtape’s overall sound as the live recording that took place a few days earlier, helping provide a seamless transition from track to track. In all, the five day Chicago-meets-London summit ended up featuring more than 20 musicians/collaborators.
Overall, the final outcome sounds like a superb DJ mix of some of the funkiest and groove-heavy live jazz you’ve ever heard. The mixtape has the raw energy of a late night London nightclub with a seamless flow that carries the listener from moment to moment. With this mixtape, McCraven has successfully captured both the sound, vibe, and most importantly, the energy that continues to be present in both of these leading and thriving jazz scenes.
Jazz is certainly not dead. It’s alive and well, and innovative artists like Makaya McCraven are making a strong argument that the best has yet to come.
Makaya McCraven
Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape)
(International Anthem Recording Co.)
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