Makaya McCraven Announces New Album ‘In These Times’ & Shares Single

Makaya McCraven will release a new album entitled In These Times via International Anthem/XL Recordings/Nonesuch on September 23. The dynamic Chicago-based jazz musician and producer previewed the 11-track LP by dropping its lead single, “Seventh String.”

In These Times has been in the works since soon after McCraven put out In The Moment, his International Anthem debut, in 2015. While Makaya went on to put out six releases over the past seven years, he’s also spent time creating what is described in press materials as “the album McCraven’s been trying to make since he started making records.”

The 41-minute LP was tracked at five different studios and four live performance spaces. Mayaka contributed drums, sampler, percussion, tambourine, baby sitar, synths, kalimba, handclaps, vibraphone, wurlitzer and organ to In These Times. Collaborators on an album called “the strongest and clearest statement we’ve yet to hear from McCraven, the composer” include harpist Brandee Younger, guitarist Jeff Parker, multi-instrumentalists Junius Paul and Joel Ross and many others.

Stream “Seventh String” below:

In These Times Tracklist

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