The 2018 release of Universal Beings, in many ways, feels like the moment that the dam broke 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.” Not in the press release, in our off-the-record conversations at the time, we said it was ‘like Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, but for jazz’.
The IA11 Edition of Universal Beings comes on classic black 140-gram vinyl 2xLP inside a heavyweight reverse-board jacket, with a 16-page 11x11" insert booklet (with unpublished photos and four conversations between IARC co-founder Scott McNiece and musicians Joel Ross, Junius Paul, Nubia Garcia, and Anna Butterss), IARC 2025 obi strip and printed poly-lined printed inner-sleeve. Pressed at Pallas in Germany, with lacquers cut by Daniel K at SST.
A1. A Queen's Intro
A2. Holy Lands
A3. Young Genius
A4. Black Lion
A5. Tall Tales
A6. Mantra
B1. Pharaoh's Intro
B2. Atlantic Black
B3. Inner Flight
B4. Wise Man, Wiser Woman
B5. Prosperity's Fear
C1. Flipped OUT
C2. Voila
C3. Suite Haus
C4. The Newbies Lift Off
C5. The Royal Outro
D1. The Count Off
D2. Butterss's
D3. Turtle Tricks
D4. The Fifth Monk
D5. Brighter Days Beginning
D6. Universal Beings
- 1. A Queen's Intro
- 2. Holy Lands (feat. Brandee Younger)
- 3. Young Genius (feat. Joel Ross)
- 4. Black Lion (feat. Dezron Douglas)
- 5. Tall Tales (feat. Tomeka Reid)
- 6. Mantra
- 7. Pharaoh's Intro
- 8. Atlantic Black
- 9. Inner Flight
- 10. Wise Man, Wiser Woman (feat. Shabaka Hutchings)
- 11. Prosperity's Fear (feat. Junius Paul)
- 12. Flipped OUT
- 13. Voila (feat. Daniel Casimir)
- 14. Suite Haus (feat. Nubya Garcia)
- 15. The Newbies Lift Off (feat. Ashley Henry)
- 16. The Royal Outro
- 17. The Count Off (feat. Carlos Niño)
- 18. Butterss's (feat. Anna Butterss)
- 19. Turtle Tricks (feat. Jeff Parker)
- 20. The Fifth Monk
- 21. Brighter Days Beginning (feat. Josh Johnson)
- 22. Universal Beings (feat. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson)
