Makaya McCraven
Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape)
Now Available
Makaya McCraven - Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape)
What people Are Saying
“There have been hands-across-the-ocean projects before, but Where We Come From is the first one which can properly be described as a meeting of equals.”
“The result is one of the most innovative Jazz records in recent memory: a project at the crossroads of contemporary club culture and the tradition of the Jazz craft carried by these young players.”
“ It’s clear, then, that Where We Come From is much more than just a mixtape but something of a historical artefact.”
– Will Ainsley, Norman Records
“…gritty, futuristic, spontaneous, and grooves HARD.”
“…it’s a spellbinding mix of live prowess and sample-flipping chops.”
“His ability to wrap his albums in the dark allure of a club show, the timeless texture of an old Folkways record and the sonic layering of a hip-hop producer has turned Mr. McCraven, 35, into the most discussed young musician on a Chicago jazz scene teeming with fresh energy.”
Announcing IARC0020: Makaya McCraven - Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape)
Released July 27, 2018
Available on LP/CD/Digital via our Bandcamp page
Drummer/producer Makaya McCraven traveled to London in October of 2017 to record material for Universal Beings. Over the course of 3 days in London, Makaya connected with first time collaborators (Theon Cross, Nubya Garcia, Joe Armon-Jones, Soweto Kinch, Ashley Henry, Daniel Casimir and Kamaal Williams), and in addition to the Universal Beings studio sessions, did 2 improvised performances as part of a 2-night showcase called CHICAGOxLONDON presented by International Anthem & EZH Mag at legendary UK Jazz hub Total Refreshment Centre (TRC). The following Sunday afternoon five producers (LeFtO, Ben LaMar Gay, Quiet Dawn, Earl Jeffers & Don Leisure of the Darkhouse Family) were invited to TRC to participate in an event called Fresh Roasted: Live Beat-Making & Battle, where they did live remixes of the recordings from Makaya & co’s CHICAGOxLONDON performances. In the subsequent months, remixes by Emma-Jean Thackray and Lexus Blondin were added to the pool, then Makaya took all the remixes and the raw live recordings from TRC back to his home studio in Chicago, edited & re-arranged the music into two continuous side suites for this CHICAGOxLONDON mixtape. The original release was available exclusively from Apple Music in June 2018. In July 2018 it was released on all DSP platforms; and in November 2018, a limited-edition colored vinyl version was co-released by International Anthem & Total Refreshment Records for direct sale only at the London Jazz Festival. Now for the first time ever, Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape) is widely available on CD and classic black vinyl.
Notes
Recorded live at Total Refreshment Centre 18 & 19 October 2017 (CHICAGOxLONDON).
Live recordings mixed at Total Refreshment Studios 20 & 21 October 2017.
Remixed live at Total Refreshment Centre 22 October 2017 (FRESH ROASTED: Live Beat-Making & Battle).
Performed by Makaya McCraven - drums; Soweto Kinch - saxophone, voice; Theon Cross - tuba; Joe Armon-Jones - Rhodes piano; Nubya Garcia - saxophone; Kamaal Williams - keys.
Remix Production & Additional Overdubs by LeFtO; Don Leisure & Earl Jeffers (Darkhouse Family); Ben LaMar Gay; Emma-Jean Thackray; Quiet Dawn; Lexus Blondin.
Mixtape Production by Makaya McCraven
Recorded & Mixed by Dave Vettraino & David Allen
Recording Assisted by Matteo Musetti
Edited by Makaya McCraven
Mastered by David Allen
Photography by Fabrice Bourgelle
Design by Raimund Wong
Associate Production by Alejandro Ayala, Tina Edwards & Lexus Blondin
Executive Production by Scott McNiece
Special Thanks: Will Savery, Steven King, Garrett Shelton, Lauren Kasper, Mark Pallman, David Burkhart, Lori Mendoza, Angel Bat Dawid, Ken Okuda, Simbad, Stella Kun, Emma Warren, Lexy Morvaridi, Oran Maneti, Will Shanahan, Kim Alpert, Junius Paul, Jaimie Branch, Tomeka Reid, Alexander Hawkins, Tina Richard, Aly Gillani, Kristian 'Capitol K' Robinson, and Gus.
All rights reserved
About
Makaya McCraven
Makaya McCraven is a beat scientist. The cutting-edge drummer, producer and sonic collagist is a multi-talented force whose inventive creative process & intuitive style of performance defy categorization.