Paris-born, New England-raised and long-time Chicago-residing Makaya McCraven has assembled a sprawling cast of talent for this ambitious, 22 track offering of new jazz that sits in the space somewhere between avant-garde, experimental and spiritual. The use of cello and harp bring a mystical element to many of the cuts here. The loping ‘Holy Lands’ is a beautiful piece of desert jazz that brings to mind that Strata east vibe, the crashing, full on ‘Prosperity’s Fear’ builds and, weaves and includes background cheers and claps that put the listener right in the room where it was performed while the more angular, off beat ‘Flipped Out’ offers yet another dimension. The languid ‘Fifth Monk’, the two-into-one ‘Brighter Days Beginning/Universal Beings’ and the sparkling ‘Black Lions’ are also standouts on an album that is more of an experience. This demands that you give it a lot of attention: the rewards are great.
Track listings:
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01 A Queen’s Intro by Makaya McCraven
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02 Atlantic Black by Makaya McCraven
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03 Black Lion by Makaya McCraven
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04 Holy Lands by Makaya McCraven
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05 Inner Flight by Makaya McCraven
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06 Mantra by Makaya McCraven
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07 Pharaoh’s Intro by Makaya McCraven
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08 Prosperity’s Fear by Makaya McCraven
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09 Tall Tales by Makaya McCraven
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10 Wise Man, Wiser Woman by Makaya McCraven
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11 Young Genius by Makaya McCraven
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12 Flipped OUT by Makaya McCraven
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13 Voila by Makaya McCraven
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14 Suite Haus by Makaya McCraven
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15 The Newbies Lift Off by Makaya McCraven
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16 The Royal Outro by Makaya McCraven
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17 The Count Off by Makaya McCraven
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18 Butterss’s by Makaya McCraven
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19 Turtle Tricks by Makaya McCraven
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20 The Fifth Monk by Makaya McCraven
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21 Brighter Days Beginning by Makaya McCraven
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22 Universal Beings by Makaya McCraven
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