Makaya's drum roll calls off the off-kilter harmonic coupling of Caroline's alto sax and Matt's bowed bass, while Marquis's trumpet stays with Makaya through some speedy rhythmic outbursts.  A cool quick segue.

Paradoxical Pair-Off

The rhythmists drag the beat, Makaya swings accents while sitting-in guest De'Sean Jones cuts loose on the saxophone.

Recorded on July 24, 2013 by engineer Dave Vettraino.  Heard on this recording: Makaya McCraven - drums, Junius Paul - bass, Justin Thomas - vibraphone, Jeff Parker - guitar, De'Sean Jones - tenor saxophone

Stutter Strutter

Matt Ulery's Loom in the vault for the first time, beautifully executing a performance of "Coriander" from their new album Wake an Echo.

Recorded July 31st, 2013, by Dave Vettraino.  On this recording: Matt Ulery - bass, Jon Deitemyer - drums, Marquis Hill - trumpet, Rob Clearfield - keyboard, Geof Bradfield - reeds.

Matt Ulery's Loom - "Coriander"

A nice little intermittent number - Justin Thomas holds down the rhythm on his vibraphone, allowing Makaya run around the kit a bit, wild and busy but delicately touched.  Somehow they hit the ground running alongside Junius Paul's spazz out bass line, and when they steady the groove, Marquis Hill adds a trumpet beat to the whole polyrhythmic affair.  A fine example of the improvisational style, the signature rhythmic development, that's come to define Spontaneous Composition in the vault.

10.02.13 - Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, Justin Thomas, Junius Paul

Makaya's kick drum locks into a bombastic slow-motion pulse with Junius Paul's double bass bump, Justefan and Marquis get hypnotic while Jeff Parker rains acid with his guitar.  22 seconds in, the bar crowd erupts in the next room after Brent Seabrook's slapshot flushed the Bruins down the toilet in game 4 of the Stanley Cup, which evened the series at 2 games apiece. 

Parker shreds over a hypnotic pulse; Blackhawks win in OT (6/19/13)

A smoothed out, catchy little downtempo bobber from a cool late-winter night in The Vault.  Makaya bounces on a flammed rimshot, Abrams jumps in quickly with some nice bass chords, Justefan colors the progression with his singing vibraphone harmonies, and Marquis tops it all off with a gorgeous trumpet melody and solo verse.

Recorded on March 5th, 2014 by Dave Vettraino.  Personnel: Makaya McCraven - drums, Joshua Abrams - bass, Justin Thomas - vibraphone, Marquis Hill - trumpet.

Steppe Smoothe

The first quartet performance in the vault; the addition of Justin Thomas's vibraphone provided a welcome harmonic foundation for trumpeter Marquis Hill (who had spent the previous month drumming on his trumpet, harmonically alone at The Bedford, with only drums and bass to accompany).

Recorded live by Dave Vettraino, April 10th, 2013 at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

Personnel: Makaya McCraven (drums), Matt Ulery (bass), Marquis Hill (trumpet), Justin Thomas (vibraphone)

Quis's New Clock

Matt Ulery's bowed double bass and Marquis Hill's muted trumpet combine for an eerily beautiful moment.

Recorded live by Dave Vettraino, April 10th, 2013 at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

Personnel: Makaya McCraven (drums), Matt Ulery (bass), Marquis Hill (trumpet), Justin Thomas (vibraphone)

Bow the Bell

Grating micro-harmonized strings are held together by Makaya McCraven's boom boom tick.

Recorded live by Dave Vettraino, May 29th, 2013 at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

Personnel: Makaya McCraven (drums), Matt Ulery (bass), Jeff Parker (guitar)

Raking the Beat

Marquis and Justin share a countdown while Makaya goes bonkers on some breakbeat variations.

Recorded live by Dave Vettraino, April 10th, 2013 at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

Personnel: Makaya McCraven (drums), Matt Ulery (bass), Marquis Hill (trumpet), Justin Thomas (vibraphone)

Counting Breaks

Marquis steps forward from a mellow cacophony with a beautifully articulated melody.

Recorded live by Dave Vettraino, April 10th, 2013 at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

Personnel: Makaya McCraven (drums), Matt Ulery (bass), Marquis Hill (trumpet), Justin Thomas (vibraphone)

Must Be Said

Matt Ulery's staccato bass pluck instigates a muscular hip hop beat from Makaya and an explosion from Marquis, ending the night's performance on a high-as-hell note.

Recorded live by Dave Vettraino, April 17th, 2013 at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

Personnel: Makaya McCraven (drums), Matt Ulery (electric bass), Marquis Hill (trumpet), Tony Barba (saxophone and electronics)

War Drums

The closing moments from a rich improvisation by Makaya McCraven, Matt Ulery, and Jeff Parker; a linear build that coasts to a satisfying resolution.

Recorded live by Dave Vettraino, May 29th, 2013 at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

Personnel: Makaya McCraven (drums), Matt Ulery (bass), Jeff Parker (guitar)

Reach for the Light

VAULT HITS is a highlight reel from drummer Makaya McCraven's Wednesday night residency at The Bedford in Chicago, Illinois.

All sounds heard on this page are spontaneous compositions, captured live by engineer Dave Vettraino of Public House Sound Recordings.

Makaya's regular collaborators at The Bedford include: Matt Ulery, Marquis Hill, Justin Thomas, Junius Paul, Jeff Parker, and Tony Barba.

Performances take place every Wednesday night from 9pm-11pm.  The Bedford is located at 1612 West Division Street, Chicago, Illinois.

This series is a presentation of Uncanned Music™
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SPONTANEOUS COMPOSITION

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