Released: 05/12/25
Paris-born, New England–raised, and long-time Chicago resident Makaya McCraven has been a leading force in reshaping jazz since his 2015 breakout In The Moment, which introduced his signature “organic beat music” crafted from reworked live improvisations.
With Universal Beings, McCraven expands this process into his most ambitious and polished project yet. Recorded across New York, Chicago, London, and Los Angeles with 15 top-tier collaborators—including Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Jeff Parker, and others—the double album elevates his improvisation-based production method and stands as a landmark in the global resurgence of next-generation Black jazz innovators.