A documentary on a key figure of IAR: Makaya McCraven
McCraven’s second album proper of ‘organic beats music’ almost incidentally internationalises the new London scene, bringing its figureheads into a bigger world. The Chicago-based drummer/ producer also offers a belated sequel to Teo Macero’s ground-breaking electric Miles cut-ups, by subjecting live improv to extensive post-production. His quest for raw material ranged from Chicago to a Queens basement bar, an LA garage and London’s cruelly closed scene-catalyst Total Refreshment Centre. Searching for the specific in these scattered local musicians, McCraven’s production then blurs borders to reaffirm their underlying community. When applause washes over the chopped up, yet flowing, soul-funk of ‘Young Genius’, and McCraven’s cymbal-splashes softly, seismically ripple, there is a constructed sense of organic place. Time, too, is reconfigured but real, retaining improv’s in-the-moment spark. (Nick Hasted, Jazzwise)