Squidco: Chicago Underground Duo: Locus

Locus

The Chicago duo of Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor on cornet, synth, electronics, bamboo flutes drums, mbira, guitar & balaphone, mixings bits of breakbeat and Afropop with jazz, ambient and electronica elements in unmistakable and compelling grooves.

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Product Information:

Personnel:

Rob Mazurek-cornet, synth, game boy, electronics, bamboo flute, voice

Chad Taylor-drums, mbira, guitar, balaphone

Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.

UPC: 81159198862

Label: Northern Spy
Catalog ID: CD-NS-052
Squidco Product Code: 18772

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2014
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Soma Electronic Studios in Chicago, Illinois by John McEntire.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

Locus, the seventh album by the Chicago Underground Duo (Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor), follows on the heels of their acclaimed 2012 Northern Spy release Age of Energy. Bits of breakbeat and Afropop are heard within the jazz, ambient and electronica elements of their unmistakable grooves. Also in the mix is a Ghanian folk tune and Ennio Morricone played on cornet, drums, mbira, ballophone, bamboo flute and Game Boy.

The pairing came out of the Chicago Underground Orchestra founded by Mazurek almost 20 years ago during a series of weekly workshops at the famed Chicago nightclub Green Mill Cocktail Lounge. The Orchestra morphed into the Chicago Underground Duo, Trio and Quartet as situations demanded, and while the orchestra has counted among its members such jazz greats as Sun Ra drummer Robert Barry and the late bassist Fred Hopkins of Air, the younger wunderkind Taylor has been the only other consistent member of the Underground bands.

The duo remains core to most everything the uncompromising Mazurek takes on. With Taylor (championed timekeeper behind Marc Ribot's Spiritual Unity Trio and projects with Peter Brotzmann, Ken Vandermark and many others), Mazurek has crafted an ever expanding sound, based in elements of jazz, techno, film music. The nine tracks on Locus find the tireless Duo exploring, as always, new sounds and new combinations."-Northern Spy

Artist Biographies

• Show Bio for Rob Mazurek

"Rob Mazurek is an American electro-acoustic composer, cornetist, improviser and visual artist living in Chicago, Illinois. As a composer, Rob Mazurek has written over 300 original compositions over the past 30 years, and has released 55 recordings on various labels. He currently leads a number of ensembles, including Exploding Star Orchestra, Pharoah and the Underground (featuring Pharoah Sanders), Chicago Underground, Pulsar Quartet, São Paulo Underground, Skull Sessions, Sound Is Quintet, Starlicker, Mandarin Movie and Throne of the House of Good and Evil, each of which possesses its own distinct musical personality.

He has collaborated with a wide variety of artists, such as Bill Dixon, Pharoah Sanders, Mike Ladd, Roscoe Mitchell, Yusef Lateef, Fred Anderson, Naná Vasconcelos, Mamelo Sound System, Kassin and Marcelo Camelo and others. Additionally, Rob Mazurek works as a visual artist (incorporating sound, painting and video) with numerous international performances, exhibitions and artist residencies."

-Rob Mazurek Website (http://robmazurek.com/)
10/29/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

^ Hide Bio for Rob Mazurek

• Show Bio for Chad Taylor

"Chad Taylor (b. 1973) is a composer, educator, percussionist and scholar who is a co-founder of the Chicago Underground ensembles. Originally from Tempe, AZ, Chad grew up in Chicago where he started performing professionally at the age of 16. Chad has performed with Fred Anderson, Derek Bailey, Cooper-Moore, Pharoah Sanders, Marc Ribot, Peter Brotzmann, Malachi Favors and many others. Chad leads his own band Circle down which debut recording was given a 5 star review by All music:

"What is remarkable is that there is no wasted motion, no histrionics or grandstanding, as pure emotion is translated to superlative music making on this most highly recommended recording, one for the ages." Allmusic.com

Chad has a BFA from the New School in Jazz Performance and a MFA in Jazz Research and History from Rutgers University."

-Chad Taylor Website (http://www.chadtaylordrums.net/html/about.php)
10/29/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

^ Hide Bio for Chad Taylor

Track Listing:

1. Locus 3:48

2. Boss 4:16

3. The Human Economy 2:36

4. Yaa Yaa Kole 4:34

5. House of the Axe 5:29

6. Borrow and Burry 3:59

7. Blink Out 5:45

8. Kabuki 5:28

9. Dante 4:06

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