Makaya McCraven

The prolific Chicago-based drummer, composer, and producer Makaya McCraven is a cultural synthesizer with a unique gift for blending past, present, and future into jazz-rooted 21st-century folk music. “McCraven has quietly become one of the best arguments for jazz’s vitality,” says The New York Times. “His ability to wrap his albums in the dark allure of a club show, the timeless texture of an old Folkways record, and the sonic layering of a hip-hop producer has turned Mr. McCraven into the most discussed young musician on a Chicago jazz scene teeming with fresh energy.”

Born in Paris to a Hungarian singer and flutist and an African American expat jazz drummer, McCraven was influenced by an enticing blend of cultures that helped establish his philosophies around jazz as folk music, as well as the role of music in building and reflecting communities. He has collaborated with a diverse range of artists and has been profiled in major outlets including Vice, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian. McCraven’s music continues to evolve, drawing on both the past and present to push the boundaries of Black improvised music. This performance ties in with a new album release following In These Times, his phenomenally successful 2022 recording. 

More information about Makaya McCraven can be found on his website.

The views expressed by performers during this event are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Museum of Art.