Flamethrower

Chicago Underground Trio, Robert Mazurek | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 15, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delmark
• ASIN: B00004UECN
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,459 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More amazing music from the Chicago Underground., January 26, 2001

By 

Papa Smerv-B'Gard (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flamethrower (Audio CD)

In Flamethrower, the Chicago Underground duo/trio/quartet takes on a new face as guitarist Jeff Parker (tortoise, isotope 217, tricolor, New Horizons Ensemble) joins up and brings to the table his wandering melodic style. It fits in perfectly with Rob Mazurek's cornet, and produces some of the finest music I've heard from the group. Although there are 4 musicians on the record they rotate in a way in which there are only 3 people playing at a time, thus it is called a trio. The use of electronics and synthesis is still there to widen the spectrum of sound, but Flamethrower seems to rely more on post-bop composition and improvisation than some of their other recordings. I definately recommend this to anyone looking for real new direction in modern jazz music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A trio or a quartet, what difference does it make?, May 16, 2004

By 

Troy Collins (Lancaster, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Flamethrower (Audio CD)

This group has basically the same line up as Isotope 217. Yes, Jeff Parker (Tortoise guitarist) is now an official fourth member of the trio ?! Wacky.

On this album the shorter pieces are like mini-electronic symphonettes and the longer pieces are swingin' jazz quartet numbers. If the up-tempo tunes aren't catchy in a swingin' post-bop vein ("Warm Marsh"), then they are more tumultuous in a VERY Sun Ra-esque way ("Number 19"). Although sans the silly space chants, of course. Nice to hear them playing with their Chicago / AACM jazz heritage.

Fans of interesting jazz trumpet playing that were disappointed by the lacking presence of Rob Mazurek's cornet on the recent Isotope 217 album will be delighted with this one. Long drawn out Miles Davis influenced passages are contrasted with his more splintery Don Cherry like playing on the free-er pieces. And Jeff's guitar playing is all over this album too, lots of solo space for him on this one. His transition from melodic post-bop linear soloing to the frenzied textural free playing on the first cut "Quail" is breathtaking.

I highly recommended this to jazz fans that are looking for something that?s swinging but still modern and forward thinking.

5.0 out of 5 stars Covering all the bases doesn't mean spreading yourself thin, April 20, 2010

By 

J. GARRATT - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Flamethrower (Audio CD)

Right off the bat, the four-piece Chicago Underground Trio (?) this time around show their range. "Quail," the first track, starts off like standard jazz with Jeff Parker playing in his best Wes Montgomery guitar tone. But before the song is up, things start to get whacked out.

Chances are, if you know Rob Mazurek, the Chicago Underground, Jeff Parker, and their various offshoots, you know these guys dwell on the fringes. The cool thing about an album like "Flamethrower" is that it fully takes advantage of its 65 minutes, sprawling into every corner that experimental jazz will allow

For instance, the title track lives up to its name when Mazurek sputters his trumpet in intermittent blasts. "Triceptikon" throws many conventions out the window in just three minutes. "A Lesson Earned" takes its time, riding a steady drum build like it was made by companion band Tortoise. And "Number 9" answers the question `what if post rock and hard bop had a head-on collision'?

I don't own all of Mazurek's recordings. As of this writing, I'm only really familiar with "Possible Cube" and I gotta say, I like this one better. For what that's worth.