Synesthesia

Chicago Underground Duo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 9, 2000
• Label: Thrill Jockey (Non Exclusive)
• ASIN: B00004SVK1
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,313,518 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Blue Sparks From Her, And The Scent Of Lightning

2. Threads On The Face

3. Bellatron

4. Red Gradations

5. Fluxus

6. Labyrinth

7. The Unique Container

8. Tram Transfer Nine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars quite masterful, January 6, 2001

By 

teresa ruggles (olathe, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Synesthesia (Audio CD)

the chicago underground is quite unlike any collective today. William Parker's circle in new york focuses entirely on free jazz. John Zorn's circle is very diverse. though he uses specific groups for certain types of music. then there is the chicago underground circle, revolving around Rob Mazurek, John McEntire, nad Jeff Parker. these three musicians combine all sorts of styles and music making their records almost unclassifiable. On Synethesia (the duos second album) Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor throw you head first into a what's what of music. there is an electronic influence...reminiscient of iannis xenakis, john cage, and musique concrete. The moog is brought to the forefront as well, bringing to mind the doors, and other 60's style pop. and of course there is a jazz influence. Mazurek's cornet brings to mind Don Cherry, Lester Bowie, and Miles Davis, while Chad Taylor's drums evoke comparisons with Milford Graves, Elvin Jones, and Denis Charles. But while Taylor and Mazurek acknowledge these influences they are not bound to them. they are most definately their own creative selves. imagine all these people and influences thrown into a mixing pot and stirred together. that is the Chicago Underground Duo! that is Synethesia!

and if you get a chance to see them live...do not miss it. their live show is intense.

5.0 out of 5 stars quite masterful, January 6, 2001

By 

teresa ruggles (olathe, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Synesthesia (Audio CD)

the chicago underground is quite unlike any collective today. William Parker's circle in new york focuses entirely on free jazz. John Zorn's circle is very diverse. though he uses specific groups for certain types of music. then there is the chicago underground circle, revolving around Rob Mazurek, John McEntire, nad Jeff Parker. these three musicians combine all sorts of styles and music making their records almost unclassifiable. On Synethesia (the duos second album) Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor throw you head first into a what's what of music. there is an electronic influence...reminiscient of iannis xenakis, john cage, and musique concrete. The moog is brought to the forefront as well, bringing to mind the doors, and other 60's style pop. and of course there is a jazz influence. Mazurek's cornet brings to mind Don Cherry, Lester Bowie, and Miles Davis, while Chad Taylor's drums evoke comparisons with Milford Graves, Elvin Jones, and Denis Charles. But while Taylor and Mazurek acknowledge these influences they are not bound to them. they are most definately their own creative selves. imagine all these people and influences thrown into a mixing pot and stirred together. that is the Chicago Underground Duo! that is Synethesia!

and if you get a chance to see them live...do not miss it. their live show is intense.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely absorbing, June 19, 2000

By 

"hungriot" (Olympia, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Synesthesia (Audio CD)

this is the music of the future. with a sound deeply indebted to miles davis, the chicago underground duo (rob mazurek and chad taylor) along with engineer john mcentire create abstract soundscapes that mix jazz and weird electronic sounds together fluidly.

this is one of the best examples of using electronics in jazz.

the sea and cake's singer, sam prekop adds moog synthesiser on 'fluxus'

this is not your traditional contemporary jazz. this is music that is more thought-provoking than sit-back-and-chill stuff.

these guys have expanded the idea of what jazz is and have provided the template for what jazz will become.