Customer Reviews

Possible Cube

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A few of the guys from Tortoise (Rob Mazurek and Jeff Parker) get together to play some experimental jazz. The melodies are restrained but they are defenitely there. If you like Tortoise or MIles Davis, you should defenitely check this one out.

With that motto, the Chicago Underground Trio set out to record this album, with satisfying, though mixed results. Once again Rob Mazurek's work on the cornet is superb all the way through, and his compositional process is daring, to say the least. To Isotope 217's fans, there's a version of "La Jetée" at the end. On a final note, many people noted similarities between this work and Miles 'electric' period. I can't say this is THAT noticeable, but I think the so-called Chicago "avant-sound" movement has something to say on its own, and it deserves a careful audition of its key elements.

Totally random CD choice for me while in Chicago this week. This CD reminds me of 'Sketces of Spain". The spacing and concepts of the music really brought back some old memories. Some of the sound effects and abstract noises could have been slighyt dimmed a bit. Overall, the CD is a wonderful addition to the new music rack in my listening room.

Possible Cube is a recording that straddles the line between jazz and experimental music. That description might sound offputting to some, but trust me, this is some very interesting music that should fail to interest only the most hidebound of jazz fans. The Chicago Underground Trio comprises Rob Mazurek (cornet, electronics, vibraphone, Vietnamese marimba, organ), Chad Taylor (percussion, vibraphone), and Noel Kupersmith (bass, vibraphone), augmented on a few cuts by Jeff Parker (acoustic guitar, organ). The music ebbs and flows, at times sounding quite straightforward, then drifting into sequences with a dreamlike quality about them.

What is especially impressive is that none of the electronic sequences seem to be done for mere effect; indeed, the music just seems to flow right along, changing as it goes, and now matter how far out the sounds go, the music always seems grounded, never leaving the listener lost. Except for a lack of deep bass, the sound quality is very good, with the spatial effects from some of the electronics adding to the fun. This is an unusual but highly entertaining recording that I recommend highly to the more musically adventurous jazz fans out there.

"Othello" starts off promisingly enough with a bass ostinato, Chad Taylor's skitterish drums, and a Rob Mazurek melody. After about 5 minutes, the song gets very ambient. For most of the rest of the CD, there are more sounds than music. Chicago Underground CD's are a mixture of the two -- "Slon" has the ambient "Zagreb" and "Kite", for example. The problem with "Possible Cube" is there is too much sound, and not enough playing. My favorite songs are "Nude Anthem", "Pisces", and "Munir E Salete". The rest might be pleasant, but don't really do anything for me. There's nothing abrasive like "Pangea" (a song I like) from "In Praise Of Shadows", the CD just floats by easily enough, which is why it gets 3 stars instead of 2.