{"product_id":"makaya-mccraven-universal-beings-ia11-edition-1","title":"Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings (IA11 Edition)","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"customHeaderWrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"band-navbar-wrapper flex\"\u003e\n\u003col id=\"band-navbar\"\u003e\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-tooltips='{\"tooltips\":[],\"dash_seen\":false}' class=\"trackView leftMiddleColumns has-art\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"leftColumn\" id=\"trackInfo\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"trackInfoInner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003eThe 2018 release of Universal Beings, in many ways, feels like the moment that the gates swung open for both Makaya McCraven and International Anthem. On one hand, it's a four-sided communal showcase of the inter-city exchange that had started to develop in the “new jazz” hubs, collecting group improvisations from New York, London, Chicago, and Los Angeles. On the other, it is an editing and post-production masterclass – the MVP of McCraven’s “organic beat music” concept – and a landmark moment where his cut-splice-reassembly chops shine as brightly as the players themselves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe musicians on the album were a combined who’s-who and who’s-gonna-be-who of their respective scenes: Brandee Younger (harp), Joel Ross (vibraphone), Tomeka Reid (cello), Dezron Douglas (double bass), Shabaka Hutchings (tenor saxophone), Junius Paul (double bass), Nubya Garcia (tenor saxophone), Ashley Henry (Rhodes piano), Daniel Casimir (double bass), Josh Johnson (alto saxophone), Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (violin), Jeff Parker (guitar), Anna Butterss (double bass), and Carlos Niño (percussion). In our original press release, we called it “an inspiring display of the organic global inter-connectedness of the Black American music tradition in 2018.” In our off-the-record conversations at the time, we said ‘it’s like Dr\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e. Dre’s The Chronic, but for jazz’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUniversal Beings earned rave reviews across the board. It was a consensus year-end favorite (as seen in NPR Music, WIRE Magazine, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Rolling Stone, Vice, Stereogum, the list goes on…) that cemented McCraven as a must-buy album producer and a must-see live performer, and brought enough energy to our “plucky Chicago indie label” that we were able to move out of a closet and into an actual office.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003eReleased December 4, 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNew York Side:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded August 29th, 2017, at H0l0 in Ridgewood, Queens, New York.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrandee Younger – harp; Tomeka Reid – cello; Joel Ross – vibraphone; Dezron Douglas – double bass; Makaya McCraven – drums\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpecial thanks: Joe Jeffers, Malik Abdul-Rahmaan, Alejandro Ayala, Elliot Ross and Hank Shocklee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChicago Side:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded September 2nd, 2017, at Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShabaka Hutchings – tenor saxophone;Tomeka Reid – cello; Junius Paul – double bass, percussion; Makaya McCraven – drums\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpecial thanks: Andy Dane, Rachel Millar, David Passick, Alejandro Ayala, Angel Bat Dawid, Alexander Hawkins, Ingrid Laubrock, Neil Gainer, David Chavez, Ed Marszewski, Jamie Trecker and Shanna Van Volt.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLondon Side:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded October 19th, 2017, at Total Refreshment Studios in Stoke Newington, London, UK.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNubya Garcia – tenor saxophone; Ashley Henry – rhodes piano; Daniel Casimir – double bass; Makaya McCraven – drums\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpecial thanks: Kristian ‘Capitol K’ Robinson, Alexis Blondel, Tina Edwards, Will Savery, Mark Pallman and David Burkhart.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLos Angeles Side:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded January 30th, 2018, at Jeff Parker’s house in Altadena, California.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJosh Johnson – alto saxophone; Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – violin; Jeff Parker – guitar; Anna Butterss – double bass; Carlos Niño – percussion; Makaya McCraven – drums\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpecial thanks: Lee Ann Schmitt and Ezra Lou ParkerSchmitt.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUNIVERSAL BEINGS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded \u0026amp; Mixed by David Allen \u0026amp; Dave Vettraino.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCover Art by Damon Locks.\u003cbr\u003eDesign by Aaron Lowell Denton.\u003cbr\u003eInsert Cover Photo by Fabrice Bourgelle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduced by Makaya McCraven.\u003cbr\u003eExecutive Production by Scott McNiece.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"license-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"info license\" id=\"license\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"cc-icons commercial\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eall rights reserved\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"International Anthem","offers":[{"title":"IARC0022 Classic black vinyl 2xLP (IA11 edition)","offer_id":52110791704850,"sku":"IARC0022LP11","price":24.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"IARC0022 Digital Download","offer_id":52121006768402,"sku":null,"price":8.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/6989\/0578\/files\/a3622200608_10.jpg?v=1773343168","url":"https:\/\/shop.intlanthem.com\/products\/makaya-mccraven-universal-beings-ia11-edition-1","provider":"International Anthem","version":"1.0","type":"link"}