Makaya McCraven Returns with New Album 'In These Times'

Hear new song "Seventh String" from the artist's latest

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jun 21, 2022

Makaya McCraven has detailed a new album. The Chicago-based percussionist, composer and producer will share In These Times on September 23 via International Anthem/Nonesuch/XL Recordings.

The 11-song In These Times was recorded across five different studios and four live performance spaces, ahead of McCraven engaging in extensive post-production work at home. Led by intricate percussion, "Seventh String" is the first of the songs to arrive, and you can hear it below.

Joining McCraven on the record are frequent collaborators Jeff Parker, Junius Paul, Brandee Younger, Marquis Hill, Joel Ross and De'Sean Jones, alongside Lia Kohl, Macie Stewart, Zara Zaharieva, Marta Sofia Honer, Greg Ward, Irvin Pierce, Matt Gold, Greg Spero and Rob Clearfield.

In These Times is now available for pre-order.

The album follows McCraven's acclaimed 2018 solo outing Universal Beings (which had its additional E&F Sides arrive in 2020), as well as his 2020 Gil Scott-Heron interpretation We're New Again, and last year's Blue Note Records reimagining Deciphering the Message.

McCraven is set to play Canada as part of the 2022 Montreal Jazz Festival, running from June 30 to July 9. Further festival dates in Europe and the US can be found via the artist's official website.


In These Times:

1. In These Times
2. The Fours
3. High Fives
4. Dream Another
5. Lullaby
6. This Place That Place
7. The Calling
8. Seventh String 
9. So Ubuji
10. The Knew Untitled
11. The Title

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