Deciphering the Message

by Makaya McCraven

Overview

Since the 1990s, Blue Note Records has periodically invited artists to remix tracks from its hallowed catalog for its "jazzhop" compilations. Several -- Us3, Guru, and Madlib -- were invited to dig in and remix wholesale, resulting in historic solo projects. Makaya McCraven joins the group with Deciphering the Message. On acclaimed releases such as 2015's In the Moment (2015) and 2018's Universal Beings (2018), McCraven forged his own beat science path, sampling his band's live playing, then revamping the audio to satisfy an inner muse. In 2020, he remixed Gil Scott-Heron's I'm New Here, transforming it into We're New Again. Deciphering the Message is a bridge between jazz's past and the rhythm-centric creativity of the present. McCraven cherrypicked 13 catalog items. He remixed and reassembled them as contemporary works with the assistance of trumpeter Marquis Hill, guitarists Matt Gold and Jeff Parker, vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonists/flutists De'Sean Jones and Greg Ward, and bassist Junius Paul. To properly differentiate the two versions, he slightly altered titles in small letters signified by "aka" in the track credits. Hank Mobley's "A Slice of the Top" (aka "Sliced Off the Top") is introduced by the voice of Pee Wee Marquette, Birdland's emcee during its golden age. McCraven is the only additional instrumentalist, adding layers of drums, percussion, and an additional bassline to Bob Crenshaw's. The producer reveals the timelessness of Mobley's jam by expanding its bluesy rhythm across post-bop, hip-hop, cumbia, and Afrobeat. The effect is more dramatic when the band enters on Kenny Dorham's Sunset (aka "Son Set"). Kenny Drew's slippery piano vamp is traced by Parker's guitar as Ross underscores the melody. It's slower, but the new groove is exponentially more meaty, pronounced, and swinging. Bobby Hutcherson's "Tranquility" (aka "Corner of the World") is also introduced by Marquette's disembodied voice. McCraven adds subtly synthed reverb to the vibes, then triple times his kit atop Joe Chambers' as saxes, flute, guitar, and Hill's trumpet all append Freddie Hubbard's. Jack Wilson's version of Frank Strozier's "Frank's Tune" (aka "De'Jeff's Tune") offers a fingerpopping hip-hop shuffle, gently layered keyboards, and breezy solos from Parker and Jones. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers' Wayne Shorter-penned "Mr. Jin (aka Mr. Gin") adds an additional rhythm section to the original with Paul on electric bass. The hard bop groove remains thanks to Shorter, Curtis Fuller, Lee Morgan, and Cedar Walton's piano vamp. It opens a gateway for canny interplay between Blakey's and McCraven's kits. The set closer is a revelatory read of Eddie Gale's "Black Rhythm Happening" (no "aka"). Only McCraven and Jones graft themselves onto an already large band and chanting chorus. Their bumping, wildly funky, breaking-snare-and-bassline-driven update retains Gale's vision as an anthem of celebration and creative multiplicity. McCraven was egoless and reverential in remixing these tunes. His own hope for Deciphering the Message is to point new listeners toward the originals. As wonderful as that intention is, this album is a phenomenal listening experience in its own right. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	12/03/2021
Label:	Decca
UPC:	0602438546299

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Makaya McCraven   Primary Artist,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Bass,Drums,Guitar,Kalimba
Ron Carter   Bass
Howard Johnson   Tuba
Jack Wilson   Piano
Kiane Zawadi   Euphonium
Jymie Merritt   Bass
Ray Brown   Bass
Roy Ayers   Vibraphone
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen   Bass
John Lewis   Piano
Art Taylor   Drums
Arthur Edgehill   Drums
Gigi Gryce   Sax (Alto)
Joann Stevens-Gale   Vocals,Guitar
Pee Wee Marquette   Spoken Word
Paula Nadine Larkin   Vocals
Matt Gold   Guitar
Joel Ross   Vibraphone
Bob Crenshaw   Bass
Fulumi Prince   Vocals
Willie Norwood   Vocals
Henry Pearson   Bass
De'Sean Jones   Flute,Sax (Tenor)
Russell Lyle   Flute,Sax (Tenor)
Sondra Walston   Vocals
JoAnn Gale Stephens   Guitar,Vocals
Charles Davis   Vocals,Vocals
Judah Samuel   Bass
Jackie McLean   Sax (Alto)
Curly Russell   Bass
Curtis Fuller   Trombone
Donald Byrd   Trumpet
James Spaulding   Sax (Alto)
Charlie Rouse   Sax (Tenor)
Elvin Jones   Drums
Jeff Parker   Guitar
Dexter Gordon   Sax (Tenor)
Carol Robinson   Vocals
Lee Morgan   Trumpet
Sam Jones   Bass
Wayne Shorter   Sax (Tenor)
Percy Heath   Bass
Horace Silver   Piano
Marquis Hill   Trumpet
John Robinson   African Percussion,African Drums
Clifford Brown   Trumpet
Eddie Gale   Trumpet
Freddie Hubbard   Trumpet
Greg Ward   Sax (Alto)
Garnett Brown   Trombone
Roland Alexander   Flute,Sax (Soprano)
Cedar Walton   Piano
Paul Chambers   Bass
Bobby Timmons   Piano
Jimmy Lyons   Sax (Alto)
Kenny Dorham   Trumpet
Philly Joe Jones   Drums
McCoy Tyner   Piano
Reggie Workman   Bass
Art Blakey   Drums,Spoken Word
Hank Mobley   Sax (Tenor)
Herbie Hancock   Piano
Junius Paul   Bass,Percussion
Varney Barlow   Drums
Sylvia Bibbs   Vocals
Bob Cranshaw   Bass
Kenny Burrell   Guitar
Billy Higgins   Drums
Bobby Hutcherson   Vibraphone
Kenny Drew   Piano
J.R. Monterose   Sax (Tenor)
Joe Chambers   Drums

Technical Credits

Horace Silver   Composer
Jack Wilson   Composer
Quincy Jones   Composer
Matt Gold   Engineer,Recording
Joel Ross   Engineer,Recording
De'Sean Jones   Recording
Steve Cook   A&R,A&R Assistance
Eddie Stevens   Composer
Todd Gallopo   Package Design
Einar Aaron Swan   Composer
Greg Ward   Engineer,Recording
Dave Vettraino   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Frank Strozier   Composer
Jeff Parker   Engineer,Recording
Wayne Shorter   Composer
Makaya McCraven   Producer,Recording,Mixing,Engineer
Marquis Hill   Engineer,Recording
Traci Fuller   A&R
Rachel Jones   A&R
Justin Seltzer   A&R
Ben Hutcherson   Composer
Tory Davis   Package Design
Alex Anastasi   A&R
Kenny Dorham   Composer
Eddie Gale   Composer
Dave Cooley   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Michael McDermott   Photography
Hank Mobley   Composer
Bobby Hutcherson   Composer
Kenny Drew   Composer
Vernon Duke   Composer