[TR24][OF] Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings (IA11 Edition) - 2018/2025 (Nu Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Soul-Jazz)

01. A Queen's Intro (0:33)
02. Holy Lands (5:15)
03. Young Genius (5:32)
04. Black Lion (2:57)
05. Tall Tales (4:16)
06. Mantra (3:49)
07. Pharaoh's Intro (1:59)
08. Atlantic Black (9:10)
09. Inner Flight (3:03)
10. Wise Man, Wiser Woman (3:13)
11. Prosperity's Fear (6:11)
12. Flipped Out (2:40)
13. Voila (5:00)
14. Suite Haus (5:09)
15. The Newbies Lift Off (6:20)
16. The Royal Outro (1:44)
17. The Count Off (1:09)
18. Butterss's (3:00)
19. Turtle Tricks (4:16)
20. The Fifth Monk (8:01)
21. Brighter Days Beginning (2:33)
22. Universal Beings (4:09)
23. CoPro 9.2.17 Part 03 (4:39)

foobar2000 1.6.16 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2025-12-18 18:47:16
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Analyzed: Makaya McCraven / Universal Beings (IA11 Edition)
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DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
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DR11      -1.02 dB   -13.45 dB      0:33 01-A Queen's Intro
DR11      -1.00 dB   -13.54 dB      5:15 02-Holy Lands
DR11      -1.00 dB   -13.13 dB      5:32 03-Young Genius
DR10      -1.01 dB   -12.78 dB      2:57 04-Black Lion
DR11      -1.02 dB   -13.23 dB      4:16 05-Tall Tales
DR10      -0.92 dB   -13.10 dB      3:49 06-Mantra
DR10      -1.01 dB   -12.79 dB      1:59 07-Pharaoh's Intro
DR9       -0.97 dB   -11.83 dB      9:10 08-Atlantic Black
DR10      -1.01 dB   -11.50 dB      3:03 09-Inner Flight
DR13      -1.02 dB   -15.15 dB      3:13 10-Wise Man, Wiser Woman
DR10      -1.02 dB   -13.01 dB      6:11 11-Prosperity's Fear
DR12      -1.02 dB   -13.81 dB      2:40 12-Flipped Out
DR9       -1.00 dB   -11.49 dB      5:00 13-Voila
DR11      -1.02 dB   -12.01 dB      5:09 14-Suite Haus
DR10      -1.01 dB   -12.55 dB      6:20 15-The Newbies Lift Off
DR14      -0.99 dB   -17.30 dB      1:44 16-The Royal Outro
DR9       -1.02 dB   -14.20 dB      1:09 17-The Count Off
DR9       -1.00 dB   -10.94 dB      3:00 18-Butterss's
DR11      -1.01 dB   -13.28 dB      4:16 19-Turtle Tricks
DR8       -1.00 dB   -11.94 dB      8:01 20-The Fifth Monk
DR12      -1.03 dB   -17.66 dB      2:33 21-Brighter Days Beginning
DR9       -1.00 dB   -11.57 dB      4:09 22-Universal Beings
DR10      -1.02 dB   -14.24 dB      4:39 23-CoPro 9.2.17 Part 03
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Number of tracks:  23
Official DR value: DR10
Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   24
Bitrate:           1428 kbps
Codec:             FLAC
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The 2018 release of Universal Beings, in many ways, feels like the moment that the gates swung open for both Makaya McCraven and International Anthem. On one hand, it's a four-sided communal showcase of the inter-city exchange that had started to develop in the “new jazz” hubs, collecting group improvisations from New York, London, Chicago, and Los Angeles. On the other, it is an editing and post-production masterclass – the MVP of McCraven’s “organic beat music” concept – and a landmark moment where his cut-splice-reassembly chops shine as brightly as the players themselves.
The musicians on the album were a combined who’s-who and who’s-gonna-be-who of their respective scenes: Brandee Younger (harp), Joel Ross (vibraphone), Tomeka Reid (cello), Dezron Douglas (double bass), Shabaka Hutchings (tenor saxophone), Junius Paul (double bass), Nubya Garcia (tenor saxophone), Ashley Henry (Rhodes piano), Daniel Casimir (double bass), Josh Johnson (alto saxophone), Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (violin), Jeff Parker (guitar), Anna Butterss (double bass), and Carlos Niño (percussion). In our original press release, we called it “an inspiring display of the organic global inter-connectedness of the Black American music tradition in 2018.” In our off-the-record conversations at the time, we said ‘it’s like Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, but for jazz’.
Universal Beings earned rave reviews across the board. It was a consensus year-end favorite (as seen in NPR Music, WIRE Magazine, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Rolling Stone, Vice, Stereogum, the list goes on…) that cemented McCraven as a must-buy album producer and a must-see live performer, and brought enough energy to our “plucky Chicago indie label” that we were able to move out of a closet and into an actual office.