Makaya McCraven - Hidden Out! (2025) [Hi-Res]

Drummer Makaya McCraven, known as the "beat scientist," has released a new project titled Off the Record, which compiles four adventurous EPs: Techno Logic, The People's Mixtape, Hidden Out!, and PopUp Shop. McCraven's musical style, shaped in Northampton, Massachusetts, and Chicago's vibrant scene, redefines modern jazz across eleven albums. Off the Record is his most ambitious project to date, blending traditional jazz with electronic textures, hip-hop rhythms, sampling, and live improvisation, marking a significant step in his artistic evolution. One of the EPs, Hidden Out!, recorded in 2017 at The Hideout in Chicago, features live sessions with double bassist Junius Paul and guitarist Jeff Parker, and guests Marquis Hill and Josh Johnson. In this project, McCraven demonstrates not only his ability to transform improvisation into art but also his skills as a multi-instrumentalist (playing percussion, keys, synthesizers, vibraphone, and guitar) and a producer. The track "News Feed" stands out as a masterclass in modern jazz percussion, and these six compositions are the most stylistically varied recordings within the Off the Record compilation.

Tracklist:
1-1 Makaya McCraven - Battleships [4:55]
1-2 Makaya McCraven - Away [3:19]
1-3 Makaya McCraven;Jeff Parker - Dark Parks [3:37]
1-4 Makaya McCraven - Awaze [4:17]
1-5 Makaya McCraven;Junius Paul - News Feed [4:48]
1-6 Makaya McCraven - Braddas [2:15]