Makaya McCraven is one of jazz’s foremost theoreticians. He’s also a celebrated party-starter. An audience of about 150 discovered the seemingly disparate traits aren’t incompatible at Liberty Hall on Wednesday, July 26.
Joined by trumpeter Marquis Hill and bassist Junius Paul, the peripatetic drummer was among the luminaries appearing at Lawrence’s Free State Festival. Fest-goers previously unfamiliar with the musicians were captivated by the 80-minute set while three dozen aficionados who paid $25 specifically to hear McCraven got their money’s worth.
McCraven and Paul constructed the slippery grooves of elite 1970s funk bands while never straying far from the righteous swing of jazz masters. Their solos were less individual statements than focused explorations of celestial rhythms. After triggering spoken word excerpts to introduce tracks including a reimagining of Gil Scott-Heron’s “I’m New Here”, Hill breathed new life into jazz trumpet with processed sounds on beguiling melodies.
Au courant touring artists affiliated with prominent record labels like International Anthem rarely perform in the Kansas City area. The light attendance at Liberty Hall won’t encourage promoters to take similar chances. Yet a discerning few took in what may prove to be the year’s best concert.