#deciphering the message

[complexdistractions]

Makaya McCraven : Deciphering The Message

Makaya McCraven is one of the most intriguing artists/composers working in jazz today. His jazz chops combined with his Teo Macero cut n paste arrangements have given me(and the rest of the world) something to look forward to every time he drops a new album. Albums like In The Moment, Highly Rare, and Universal Beings live in rarified air in that they encompass everything that jazz stands for…

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[theeverlastingshade]

A few weeks ago Makaya McCraven released a new LP called Deciphering the Message, and it's a strong collection of songs that repurpose samples from various songs within the Blue Note canon, and use them as the foundation to build new songs from. Highlight "Mr. Jin" is a triumphant late album cut propelled by anthemic brass leads and a cymbal-heavy rythmn. DtM features contributions from Jeff Parker, Matt Gold, Marquis Hill, De'Sean Jones, Junius Paul, Joel Ross, & Greg Ward which give the proceedings a more fleshed out, full-band feel despite the genesis of these compositions coming from McCraven alone sampling, layering, and manipulating echoes of Blue Note's history for their foundations.

On "Mr. Jin" the players are all vamping in the pocket while a blistering saxophone tears through the mix with remarkable precision. Within the last minute of "Mr. Jin" Parker rips into a guitar solo, and the song begins spiraling into a searing, percussion-heavy coda. Given the solitary nature of how these songs were conceived it's remarkable how tight, and lively the band sound together. While the music throughout draws most obviously from the Blue Note jazz canon, there are nods to hip-hop, funk, & r&b which really solidifies the notion of this record existing within that continuum. Whether he's reimagining Gil Scott Heron songs, or recontextualizing gems from Blue Note's past it's become increasingly evident that Makaya McCraven is one of the most consistently compelling jazz musicians working today.

[feartheendlesssummer]

seeking mental clarity

i think things- scenarios that could be- situations that are beyond unlikely- near impossible- then reason them to be the path i should follow. these thoughts drive me to steer my current life down the shitter. first it's like a performance enhancement. i become confident, motivated, yet narcissistic. but then i get mean- i push people away. i become withdrawn- excessively awkward. depressed when i realize it's ridiculous to pursue such a dream. a suicidal type of sadness. but... this time it feels different. also more extreme. like, 100% life changing extreme. i've been paying attention for messages and signs. what's from my merciful and gracious God, and what's from the beautiful fallen angel Lucifer- the master of confusion and deceit? it's quite hard to decipher.