Makaya McCraven

Deftly fusing jazz, folk and more, Chicago drummer and bandleader Makaya McCraven is a fearless innovator and a vital piece of the city’s storied jazz puzzle for nearly 20 years. From the rock flair and hip hop bounce of his debut record ‘Split Decision’, McCraven has continued to experiment; 2015’s ‘In The Moment’ made the year’s Best Of lists for NPR and the Los Angeles Times, while his 2022 release, ‘In These Times’, boiled seven years of recording sessions into a labyrinth of introspective, poly-textural arrangements. With a live show rooted in virtuosic performance and thrilling improv, McCraven is a true musician’s musician. “Balancing jazz’s precious tradition and its present and future” – The Guardian.