Listen: Makaya McCraven – In the Moment: E & F Sides

Makaya McCraven is rocketing his way to legendary status as one of the most inventive drummers alive. While rooted heavily in the jazz tradition, McCraven isn’t afraid of blending elements of hip hop into the jazz scene.

Last year’s In the Moment was an incredible album, which also spawned an equally inventive remix follow-up. However it seems he has been saving our favorite for last: a welcome addition dropped, entitled the E & F Sides.

This project puts together 48 hours of live improvisational recordings with a host of Chicago jazz musicians and then edited, mixed and mastered (by Low End Theory founder Daddy Kev) into a lovely cohesion of tracks held together both by the loop based ethos of hip hop while peppered with the improvisational spirit of jazz which makes In the Moment a seductive listen.

The drums knock, the vibraphone soothes and the horns carry along. For me, one of the best finds so far this year. The original release and remix of In the Moment can also be found here.