Country : United States Label : International Anthem Genres and styles : Contemporary Jazz / Electronic / Instrumental Hip Hop Year : 2020
Makaya McCraven

Universal Beings E&F Sides

· by Alain Brunet

Directed by Mark Pallman, the documentary Universal Beings is based on the title of a major album by percussionist and visionary Makaya McCraven. The camera follows the American musician and his colleagues in Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and New York. McCraven’s biographical elements and explanations of his music lead to a better grasp of the small revolution he is leading on the jazz planet. Needless to say, the form is in dire need of new conceptual leaders, and McCraven is one of them. Universal Beings E&F Sides arrives in the context of this documentary film, a superb complement to the original album and also the material for the film’s soundtrack, providing 14 other reasons to swoon. As was the case in the original album, the Chicago jazzman and his colleagues create formidable miniatures, very short pieces (in the context of jazz) ranging from 1 minute 27 seconds to 4 minutes 36 seconds. Based on spectacular polyrhythmic cells and melodic-harmonic motifs, these new or redesigned compositions perfectly integrate the practices inherent in digital culture. Thus, the instruments involved in this ensemble reproduce the processes of filtering, rewinding, texturing, looping, remixing, and reconstituting musical works, as is the case in hip hop or electro, the difference that these processes are performed in real time by old-world instruments and musicians experienced in jazz practice, integrating improvisation with virtuoso interpretation – drums, double bass, saxophone, keyboards, harp, vibraphone, strings, etc. – and the use of the digital technology. It’s been claimed for some time now that Makaya McCraven is an authentic gamechanger – here’s another opportunity to recognize it.

Latest 360 Content

MENTHÜLL – FOR THE LAST TIME

MENTHÜLL – FOR THE LAST TIME

18e GAMIQ: ÉCOUTEZ LES GAGNANT.E.S !

18e GAMIQ: ÉCOUTEZ LES GAGNANT.E.S !

Max Fulcrum & The Win – I COULD CHANGE

Max Fulcrum & The Win – I COULD CHANGE

Wordburglar – 1980 Force

Wordburglar – 1980 Force

Polar Baron – Ruby Rumble

Polar Baron – Ruby Rumble

Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca : “Searching for Goya” with Martin Santangelo

Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca : “Searching for Goya” with Martin Santangelo

“Mon coeur bat la chamade” – Talking with Gabrielle Cloutier

“Mon coeur bat la chamade” – Talking with Gabrielle Cloutier

Anachnid – Freak of Nature

Anachnid – Freak of Nature

We Owe – Slight Inconvenience

We Owe – Slight Inconvenience

Final Fantasy | Immersive and symphonic video games series

Final Fantasy | Immersive and symphonic video games series

Festival Vibrations | Ensemble de Musique du Monde’s South American Journey

Festival Vibrations | Ensemble de Musique du Monde’s South American Journey

L’Orchestre de l’Agora at the Bach Festival | The Bach Family in Serene Contemplation

L’Orchestre de l’Agora at the Bach Festival | The Bach Family in Serene Contemplation

AKOYA / Amanda Keesmaat – Graupner : intégrale des sonates pour violon et clavecin

AKOYA / Amanda Keesmaat – Graupner : intégrale des sonates pour violon et clavecin

Vibrations Festival at UdeM | Special Guests and Brazilian Music in the Spotlight

Vibrations Festival at UdeM | Special Guests and Brazilian Music in the Spotlight

Pressure Pin Live: Surprisingly calculated art punk, but still weird

Pressure Pin Live: Surprisingly calculated art punk, but still weird

Laurence Kayaleh / Bernadene Blaha – Noskowski / Zelenski : Violin Sonatas

Laurence Kayaleh / Bernadene Blaha – Noskowski / Zelenski : Violin Sonatas

Quatuor Molinari – Philip Glass : Complete String Quartets, Nos. 5-7, Volume 2

Quatuor Molinari – Philip Glass : Complete String Quartets, Nos. 5-7, Volume 2

Bach Festival | The Pleasures of the Sonata According to Diderot

Bach Festival | The Pleasures of the Sonata According to Diderot

Le Vivier and Orchestre de l’Agora | A Virtuoso Celebration of Contemporary Music

Le Vivier and Orchestre de l’Agora | A Virtuoso Celebration of Contemporary Music

Yellow Eyes – Master’s Murmur

Yellow Eyes – Master’s Murmur

Gnaw Their Tongues – The Cessation of Suffering

Gnaw Their Tongues – The Cessation of Suffering

Nicole Rampersaud – Saudade

Nicole Rampersaud – Saudade

I Gemelli in Montreal: Simply One of the Year’s Great Concerts

I Gemelli in Montreal: Simply One of the Year’s Great Concerts

Sudden Voices – I Knew You At Once

Sudden Voices – I Knew You At Once

Subscribe to our newsletter