Makaya Marcus McCraven, drummer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist has been impressing crowds for almost two decades. His explosive drumming blends world rhythms and jazz traditions with a hip hop and rock attitude. Mixing music is not new to Makaya: his parents, drummer Stephen McCraven and Hungarian folk singer Agnes Zsigmondi, introduced him to eclectic sounds touring with him while he was still in the womb. Now, he has taken their influences and developed his own unique style. At age 27 he has internationally toured and performed with jazz greats such as Archie Shepp, Yusef Lateef, Charles Neville, Billy Taylor and many more. He has shared the stage with such acts as Wutang, Digable Planets, The Pharcyde, Mixmaster Mike, the Wailers, and the list goes on. Destined to be a musician before his birth, Makaya McCraven brings fresh life to music, merging old traditions with new sounds.
Born in Paris October 19th 1983, Makaya McCraven was exposed to the vast musical possibilities of the world. His father started him on drum lessons before he could hold a stick by practicing with his hands as a toddler. He also accompanied his mother to University of Massachusetts, sitting in on her classes as well as the voice lessons she instructed. By the time Makaya was 5 he was performing with a drum ensemble “The CMSS Bashers.” He has been performing ever since. In high school, Makaya was co-founder of the band, Cold Duck Complex. They have released 3 records and toured throughout the Northeast, opening for major national acts and gaining a loyal fan base. Cold Duck Complex became a campus favorite at the the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where they opened for 50 Cent, Rhazel and Reel Big Fish. As a music major at the University, Makaya played in the University Jazz Orchestra and earned 3 down beat awards.
Currently Makaya resides in Chicago and has performed with numerous groups in the city and on tour. Within just two years in Chicago, Makaya has already played with some of the city's most respected jazz musicians, including Bobby Broom (Sonny Rollins), Bobby (Baabe) Irving (Miles Davis), Corey Wilkes, Henry Johnson, and Ari Brown. He has performed at some of Chicago's finest venues and festivals, including Milllenium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, the Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Greenmill, the Jazz Showcase, and the Velvet Lounge. Rooted in Chicago, Makaya travels between the Midwest and East Coast. He is the Musical Director of the Pushkin, an arts collective in Greenfield, Massachusetts where he is known for throwing cultural events and recording albums with a variety of musicians.
Now working on his first album, this young drummer has contributed to a number of recordings with artists representing a spectrum of styles: Apollo Sunshine's "Shall Noise Upon," (Headless Heroes); Kris Delmhort's "Shotgun Singer," (Signature Sounds); Mathias Ockert's "Survey," (Simmer Music), and others.
Makaya’s background, coupled with his love for real hip hop, rock, and any other forward-thinking music that comes his way, makes for a dynamic instrumental fusion that is undeniable to the listener. Makaya is a true improviser who, with each performance, creates a new live music experience.
|
Discography
Kris Delmhorst "Shotgun Singer" (Signature Sounds)
Cold Duck Complex Presents: Freshwater "Bad Love'
GMG Trio "GMG"
Willerm Delisfort "Freedom Riders"
Jeff Dantona "Ocean Rising" (The Art and Music Factory)
Archie Shepp "Faut Que C 'A Danse" French Film Soundtrack, Nominated for best orignal score for a Cesar award (French equivalent to an Academy Award)
Sandy Baily Mayo "Raven's Flesh"
Apollo Sunshine's (Percussion) "Shall Noise Upon" (Headless Heroes)
Cold Duck Complex "Enough" (Dozo Music)
Cold Duck Complex "Figureheads" (Dozo Music) Peaked #11 for hip hop CMJ Charts
Leah Randazzo "At the Root" (percussion)
Barry Kingston and The Screaming Souls "Pass it On" (Spirit House Records) Live CD/DVD
Alecia Chakour "Hope" comissioned tribute presented to the Dalai Lama
Mathias Ockert Group "Survey" (Simmer music)
Doug Hewitt "Picasso Tomato" (Self Released)
Agnes Zsigmondi "Change"(Self Released)
Tatyana Tenenbaum "Bushwick is the New Black" (Self Released)
Jeff D'antona "Offering" (Self Released)
InterplayJazz Trip "Pull the Shades" (Simmer music)
Ross Belenoit + Makaya McCraven "Things Only You and I Will Find"
|
Press
www.Jazzchicago.net
By James Walker
"He's an exciting drummer with plenty of positive energy and fueled the proceedings with his power-precision drumming."
The Daily Collegian (Umass)
Experimental rappers bring funk to Iron Horse
Matthew M. Burke, Collegian Staff
"McCraven's three-piece kit work is equally as amazing and he is truly a sight to see as well as hear."
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Article on David "Goody" Goodrich (Producer and Guitarist)
“Makaya McCraven, who Goodrich describes excitedly as "a super-sick drummer!"”
www.Jazzreview.com
Alexander M. Stern
"the thundering drums of Makaya McCraven".
www.4TWK.com (For Those Who Know)
Q&A with SMKjr Thursday, 01 September 2005
“The first time I saw Makaya McCraven play live was at a house party in Leverett, Massachusetts circa 2001. Back then, McCraven, just in high school was already dropping jaws and moving feet of all ages. Most recently I saw Makaya tear up the drums at the Valley Arts Festival in Amherst. Big Mak had played with both "rock n roll scream-squad" Apollo Sunshine and trusty ol' Cold Duck Complex. He was nice enough to take a minute out of his busy schedule and answer a 4TWK Q&A.”
CD Baby Review of Cold Duck Complex
"Makaya’s drumming techniques are simply astounding, ranging from funk to rock, jazz to samba; and his ability to switch-up “on-the-fly” is nothing short of amazing."
The Phillipian
by Nate Scott March, 2004
"McCraven was the fuel that kept the energy up for the group for the duration of the two-hour show. McCraven is an imposing sight—he stands over 6 feet tall, is extremely well built, and sports a large afro. Playing on a beaten, purple drum set, his powerful drumming and overbearing presence gave the impression that he was going to break the set at any minute. Many in the audience thought he was the highlight of the show, with his fierce but lighthearted percussion holding the crowd in rapt attention during the instrumentals."
Kris Delmhorst in an Interview in Modern Acoustic (www.ModernAcoustic.com)
"drummer (Makaya McCraven) did an amazing job of playing with
and off of the machine, so on some songs they’re really a little team."
“Heaven Holds the Sun,” a darkly sensual number with a great backing beat.
Podcast Audio interview with Jopey.
http://jopey.blogspot.com/2007/06/jopeycast-30-with-makaya-mccraven.html
“Makaya McCraven, beat master for Cold Duck Complex chats it up with Jopey about music, dance, life, and Mom.”
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Cold Ducks take flight
BY KEN MAIURI
"He and drummer Makaya McCraven made an unstoppable rhythm section, especially in their commitment to not allow a funky groove to rest on its laurels. They masterfully changed up the feel, in one tune moving from skipping sunshine funk to a riled-up Latin rhythm to a thundering slam-rock finale."
Binghamton University Press
“Makaya McCraven…well, he’s had some practice.”
NPR
Daniel Oppenhiemer on Cold Duck Complex
|
