Chicago, IL

With a philosophy that connects jazz with folk tradition and the future, drummer and bandleader Makaya McCraven has been a vital piece of Chicago’s storied jazz puzzle for nearly 20 years. 

Born to a Hungarian singer and African-American drummer, Makaya spent his Massachusetts childhood immersed in Eastern European folk, avant-jazz, and ‘90s hip-hop influences. He cut his teeth in jazzy hip-hop band Cold Duck Complex (who opened for the Wu-Tang Clan!) before relocating to Chicago in 2007 and quickly establishing himself as a force behind the drumkit, collaborating with the likes of Willie Pickens and Sled Island alum Jeff Parker. 

His debut record as a bandleader, 2012’s Split Decision, incorporated rock flair and hip-hop bounce into free-ranging jazz arrangements, a firm mission statement for Makaya’s musical fearlessness. This genre-bending continued on 2015’s In The Moment, a synthesis of jazz improvisation and rap beats that made the “Best of 2015” lists for PopMatters, NPR, and the Los Angeles Times.

You can trace Makaya’s visionary approach through his releases since. ‘17’s Highly Rare showcases his deft live improv, while ‘18’s Universal Beings creates a melting pot of international sounds and narratives. He reworked Gil-Scott Heron's final album We’re New Again with swampy blues flair, and his 2022 release, In These Times, boils seven years of recording sessions in a labyrinth of introspective, poly-textural arrangements. 

Makaya’s electric live show — which incorporates virtuosic drumming with thrilling improv — has to be seen to be believed. Check out his Blue Up performance uploaded to YouTube last year for a taste of the party you’re in for, Calgary.