Perspectives: Makaya McCraven

After celebrating the 10th anniversary of his groundbreaking album In the Moment, McCraven continues to push the boundaries of what we call jazz – inviting you on a journey through time, space, and culture. With his latest album, In These Times – the result of over seven years of relentless work – he presents a fusion of improvisation, innovative rhythms, and deep cultural references.

Often described as a “cultural synthesizer,” McCraven believes that the term “jazz” is simply not enough to capture the musical phenomenon he creates. As The New York Times has noted, “McCraven has quietly become one of the best arguments for jazz’s vitality.”

Between August and October 2025 Makaya McCraven will simultaneous release four new EPs titled Techno Logic, PopUp Shop, Hidden Out!, and The People's Mixtape. All four EPs were produced in McCraven’s signature 'organic beat music' style that first debuted on his 2015 album In The Moment, and further developed across subsequent releases Highly Rare, Where We Come From, and Universal Beings, where he exercises heavy post-production on live recordings of improvisations he leads from the drumkit.

Presented by NCH