Makaya McCraven at HOPE Center for the Arts

A Hometown Visionary Redefining the Sound of Modern Jazz

Born in Paris but raised just outside Amherst Massachusetts Makaya McCraven cut his musical teeth in Western Mass’s vibrant college-town scene—playing in high-school bands jazz combos hip-hop collectives and forming the DIY band Cold Duck Complex for a time one of the region’s most prominent acts. That formative backdrop—a diverse creative microcosm—laid the groundwork for McCraven’s genre-spanning vision and his later breakthrough as a “beat scientist” who mixes jazz hip-hop and improvisation with fearless creative clarity.

Since emerging in the 2010s McCraven has fast become one of the most inventive and stirring voices in modern jazz—not just for his drumming but for his compositional approach. His breakthrough album In These Times earned widespread acclaim and topped critics’ year-end lists. As a visionary producer he transforms live improvisation into layered rhythmically compelling collages a method that has helped define a new sound in contemporary jazz and captured the ears of audiences around the world.

We’re proud to welcome Makaya McCraven back to his stomping ground for a performance at the HOPE Center—the kind of full-circle moment that celebrates a hometown talent whose music now resonates on an international scale. His blend of improvisation rhythm and cross-genre creativity speaks directly to the adventurous spirit of our audience offering a chance to hear music that’s both deeply grounded and thrillingly forward-looking. Expect an evening where the line between tradition and innovation blurs under the hands—and mind—of one of jazz’s most compelling contemporary voices.

You may also like the following events from HOPE Center for the Arts:

• This Saturday, 4th October, 07:00 pm, John Pizzarelli and The Swing 7 in Springfield
• This Sunday, 5th October, 08:00 pm, Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez in Springfield