released: october 31, 2025

from: chicago, usa

genre: jazz / broken-beat

label: xl recordings / international anthem

a few thoughts: makaya mccraven is one of the greatest jazz drummers of this generation. his albums have a unique, heavy and hard-hitting quality to them that are reflected on 4 ep’s he released this year: popup shop, hidden out!, the people’s mixtape and techno logic with theon cross and ben lamar gay. varied, blending intricate drumming with percussion-led melodies, the tracks feel bold and punchy. on popup shop, “venice” hits through immediately with hard-hitting drums akin to a 90s hip-hop beat. the meandering percussion and guitar-driven melodies add a wonderlike character to the music. the closer “sweet stuff” is incredible gentle, yet with poignant drums that just hit the right spot for me.

hidden out! is a meditative little ep with 6 playful and captivating tracks. “battleships” with jeff parker on guitar is mesmeric, with a rumbling bassline that carries this menacing tone, accompanied by jeff parker’s expressive guitar playing. the hypnotic “awaze” featuring josh johnson on sax and electronics is another highlight, while “news feed” featuring junius paul on double bass is another expressive, colourful moment on the ep.

the people’s mixtape opens with the disorienting “choo choo”, with restless electronica that reminds me of herbie hancock’s mwandishi sextet. it’s a wildly engaging project that features some incredibly dense drumming. the electronica on “the beat up” that subtly builds is just incredible, as well as the lush and gorgeous wind instrumentation. the stunning vibraphone melodies over the muffled beat of “what a life” are stunning too, while “lake shore drive five” is an exceptional and restless groove that might be a highlight throughout all these ep’s, to be honest. a ridiculously infectious track.

techno logic features the talents of thon cross on tuba and electronics and ben lamar gay on cornet, voice, percussion, synths, electronics and the diddley bow. it’s a piercing project, with rumbling basslines and frantic energy, especially reflected in the first two tracks “gnu blue” and “technology”. the funk of “boom bapped” is fitting for its title, a hard-hitting hip-hop beat i get tempted to rhyme over. the choppy “prime” is fantastic too, with a nuanced composition comprised of raw and restless drumming, subtle electronic synths and meandering wind instrumentation that animates the track poignantly. the rumbling, emphatic bassline and melody give “strikes again” an eerie energy to it, and closes the album out in style.

off the record is. a terrific project showcasing just how versatile makaya is as an artist, as well as how bold and adventurous he is to continue elevating his music to new heights. definitely the compilation / ep’s of the year.