Artist: Makaya McCraven
Taking the last work of Gil Scott-Heron (I’m New Here) and reimagining the entire thing is more than just a bold move, it’s potential career suicide. And yet Makaya McCraven has dug so very deep and pulled it off, almost. Scott-Heron fanatics will no doubt hurrumph but this is a quality piece of work. The jazz drummer and bandleader has produced a fitting homage without destroying anything. Think of this as a house makeover with lots of paint and trimming where the structure is still the same. It’s a good effort.
Rating: ****
> Gary Trueman
