Deciphering The Message - Makaya McCraven (1LP Vinyl)

Deciphering The Message by Makaya McCraven.

Makaya McCraven's "Deciphering The Message" arrives on Blue Note Records as a deep and loving conversation with the label's own catalog. Released in 2021 under UMG Recordings, this EU pressing finds the drummer and producer digging into the vault of hard bop and post bop classics, then reassembling them through his signature approach of live performance, sampling, and studio craft. It is a record about listening closely to the past and hearing something new inside it.

The material draws from a remarkable spread of Blue Note history. McCraven reworks Hank Mobley's "A Slice Of The Top" and Kenny Dorham's "Sunset" and "Monaco," alongside Horace Silver's "Ecaroh," Bobby Hutcherson's "Tranquillity," and Clifford Brown's "Wail Bait." There are readings of Dexter Gordon's "Coppin' The Haven," Jack Wilson's "Frank's Tune" and "C.F.D.," and Eddie Gale's "Black Rhythm Happening," plus standards such as "When Your Lover Has Gone" and "Autumn In New York," and Art Blakey's "Mr. Jin." Woven throughout are vintage announcements from Pee Wee Marquette and Art Blakey lifted from classic Jazz Messengers live dates, threads that tie the whole session back to Birdland and the Cafe Bohemia.

What makes the album so compelling is the way McCraven treats these tunes as raw material rather than museum pieces. Each track carries an alternate working title, from "Sliced Off The Top" to "Spring In Chicago" to "Monte Negro," a playful signal that these are transformations, not reproductions. The originals become launch points for grooves, textures, and rhythmic movement that feel entirely contemporary while honoring the spirit of the source recordings.

The sessions were built across a wide network of studios and collaborators. Recording and engineering centered on Makaya Music Studios, with additional work captured by Greg Ward at Avondale Studios, Joel Ross at Good Vibes Inc., De'Sean Jones at Submerge Studios, Jeff Parker at Sholo Studios, Matt Gold at Catfish Recording, Marquis Hill at Black Unlimited Music Group, and Dave Vettraino at Palisade Studios, along with Jerome James Studio. That distributed, collage like construction is central to the album's identity, gathering voices from across a community of players into a single unified statement.

The mixing was handled by Dave Vettraino at International Anthem Studios and by McCraven himself at Makaya Music Studios, with mastering completed at Elysian Masters in Los Angeles. This pressing was made in the EU and includes a printed insert to round out the package.

For anyone drawn to the living lineage of Blue Note, this is an essential piece: a modern producer's tribute that respects the source while pushing it somewhere fresh, spinning classic jazz into something that breathes with today's rhythm.

Pressing Details:
Made in EU.

Includes a printed insert.

Blue Note Records; ℗© 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc.

Recorded and engineered [...] at Makaya Music Studios.

Additional recording and engineering by Greg Ward at Avondale Studios, Joel Ross at Good Vibes Inc., De'Sean Jones at Submerge Studios, Jeff Parker at Sholo Studios, Matt Gold at Catfish Recording, Marquis Hill at Black Unlimited Music Group, Dave Vettraino at Palisade Studios, and Jerome James Studio.

Mixed by Dave Vettraino at International Anthem Studios and Makaya McCraven at6 Makaya Music Studios Mastered [...] at Elysian Masters, Los Angeles, CA
A1. A Slice Of The Top (A Slice Of The Top, Hank Mobley) ("Pee Wee Marquette Announcement" - A Night At Birdland, Vol. 1, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers) Published by Second Floor Music (BMI) AKA "Sliced Off The Top"
A2. Sunset (Whistle Stop, Kenny Dorham) Published by Second Floor Music (BMI) AKA "Son Set"
A3. When Your Lover Has Gone (A Night In Tunisia, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers) Published by Warner Bros Inc. (Warner Bros Music Div) (ASCAP) AKA "When You've Left Your Lover"
A4. Ecaroh (Horace Silver Trio, Horace Silver) Published by Ecaroh Music Inc (ASCAP) AKA "Revlis"
A5. Tranquillity (Components, Bobby Hutcherson) ("Pee Wee Marquette Announcement" - Meet You At The Jazz Corner Of The World Vol. 1 - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers) Published by EMI UNART CATALOG INC (BMI) AKA "Corner Of The World"
A6. Wail Bait (The Memorial Album, Clifford Brown) Published by Silhouette Music (BMI) AKA "Wait Bail"
A7. Coppin' The Haven (One Flight Up, Dexter Gordon) Published by EMI UNART CATALOG INC (BMI) AKA "At The Haven Coppin'"
B1. Frank's Tune (Easterly Winds, Jack Wilson) ("Art Blakey Announcement" - At The Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2 - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers) Published by Steeplechase Music (KODA) AKA "De'Jeff's Tune"
B2. Autumn In New York (Blue Lights Vol. 1, Kenny Burrell) Published by Music Sales Corp (ASCAP) AKA "Spring In Chicago"
B3. Monaco ('Round About Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia, Kenny Dorham) ("Pee Wee Marquette & Art Blakey Announcement" - Meet You At The Jazz Corner Of The World Vol. 2 - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers) Published by Second Floor Music (BMI) AKA "Monte Negro"
B4. Mr. Jin (Indestructible, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers) Published by Miyako Music (BMI) AKA "Mr. Gin"
B5. C.F.D. (Something Personal, Jack Wilson) Published by EMI UNART CATALOG INC (BMI) AKA "D.F.C."
B6. Black Rhythm Happening (Black Rhythm Happening, Eddie Gale) Published by Mark Edward Publishing Company (ASCAP)

Track Listing:
A1. A Slice Of The Top
A2. Sunset
A3. When Your Lover Has Gone
A4. Ecaroh
A5. Tranquillity
A6. Wail Bait
A7. Coppin' The Heaven
B1. Frank's Tune
B2. Autumn In New York
B3. Monaco
B4. Mr. Jin
B5. C.F.D.
B6. Black Rhythm Happening

Artist: Makaya McCraven

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Blue Note

Catalog Number: 00602438144730

Release Year: 2021

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)