'Many Changes' by Magro

"I drum.  I produce.  I build moods."

The brief but accurate description of Magro's talents can be found via his Instagram page which goes a long way to further justifying his bold proclamation.  Serving as something of an inspiring chronicle of sorts, Magro's Instagram charts the drummer and producer's numerous jam sessions, sketches of upcoming songs, new music and his prolific touring duties that have taken him to stages across Europe and most recently to India and Nepal as well in his continued quest to expand his own musical repertoire.

Now celebrating the release of his third full-length album 'Many Changes', Magro once again unveils new music to enthusiastic ears.  Continuing to prove himself as a veritable force amongst today's genre fluid perspectives on music, Grossman effortlessly adorns the tag of 'jazz artist' just as comfortably as he does 'hip-hop artist'.  His string of independent releases to date - which include previous album releases 'Trippin' (2021) and 'II' (2022), standalone singles and beat tapes - all add to the phenomenal musical collage of a progressive and innovative artist always seeking new ways to push himself and his music forward.  

And aside from Magro's independent releases, the drummer's sonic hip-hop-meets-nu-jazz-meets-electronica soundscapes also caught the attention of the revered Sonar Kollektiv label.  Not only did the union generate the fantastic and eclectic EP 'Tokyo Tree' in 2024, it also secured Magro a coveted spot amidst the just-released Jazzanova remix project celebrating their 2002 milestone project 'In Between'.  Remixing the Ursula Rucker-assisted 'Keep Falling', Magro finds himself in esteemed company alongside The KBCS and Japanese jazz trio Nautilus.

'Many Changes' continues the run of fantastic music - following a steady flow of singles in preparation of the album's release, the stage was set for another excursion into Magro's unrivalled sonic universe that seems to both define convention as well as defy it.  Comprised of a core trio of artists that position the drummer alongside Martin Lüdicke on keys and Francesco Beccaro on bass, the album boasts some distinguished guests including pianist Telemakus, guitarist Tom Ford, saxophonist Sean Payne and frequent collaborator in rapper Rapturous. 

As alluded to earlier, sonically, the music is typically Magro-esque when it comes to its unpredictability and genre-blurring composition.  And while there are tracks that display his penchant for hi-energy, broken beat-styled production like 'Light Switch' or the album's title track, some numbers seem born of a more introspective nature with 'MkKy' and 'When I Grow Up' adding an elegant nuance to the album as a whole.

With 'Many Changes', Magro once again highlights the importance of growth as a part of his own musical journey.  Never resting on his laurels, never taking the easy option, Magro's masterclass in evolution almost still feels in its early stages with a multitude of adventures still ahead of him.  It's like he says... "I drum.  I produce.  I build moods."