| Locus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2014 | |||
| Studio | Soma Electronic Music Studios, Chicago | |||
| Genre | Free jazz | |||
| Label | Northern Spy NSCD 052 | |||
| Chicago Underground Duo chronology | ||||
| ||||
Locus is an album by the Chicago Underground Duo, featuring multi-instrumentalists Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor. It was recorded at Soma Electronic Music Studios in Chicago, Illinois, and was issued in 2014 by Northern Spy Records as the group's second release for the label. [1] [2] [3]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| The Free Jazz Collective | [4] |
| All About Jazz | [5] |
| PopMatters |   [6] |
| The Vinyl District | B+ [7] |
In a review for AllMusic, Matt Collar called Locus "a frenetic album buzzing with creativity and avant-garde vitality," and "an album of quick hitters that nonetheless leaves a lasting impression." [1]
A reviewer for The Free Jazz Collective wrote: "the overall sound alternates dark passages with celebratory and upbeat injections, as a collage of sonic colours, danceable even, as a great mix of sounds from across the globe, but preferably its most tropical parts, its most tropical parties, in a dense atmosphere of warm fun with subterranean gloom and high energy madness." [4]
Troy Collins of All About Jazz stated: "Locus seamlessly incorporates myriad genres, ranging from polyrhythmic swingers and avant-garde divertissements to cinematic soundscapes and impressionistic tone poems. On the eve of their second decade performing together, Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor demonstrate that there are ample sound worlds left for the Chicago Underground Duo to explore." [5]
Writing for PopMatters , Steve Horowitz described the album as "dense, adventurous," and commented: "it is not always clear who is doing what, but there is always something going on. What may seem like improvisation becomes a particular point or a place — a locus. While identifying the exact location may be impossible, the music does seem to move according to mathematically defined circumstances." [6]
The Vinyl District's Joseph Neff remarked: "The Chicago Underground Duo is now appropriately described as a tandem of veterans, but the secret to their continued relevance is how they tackle their art with youthful vigor. This... is a fine addition to their already impressively consistent discography, and anybody that's enjoyed one of their albums in the past... shouldn't hesitate to give Locus a try." [7]
In an article for The Big Takeover , Chuck Foster wrote: "Purists may dismiss Locus as not jazz, but just as John Coltrane played with 'My Favorite Things' and Sun Ra mutated Disney standards, The Chicago Underground Duo is taking the modern electronic vernacular and bending it into something else new and exciting." [8]
S. Victor Aaron of Something Else! noted that the musicians' "deft application of lo-fi electronics to out-jazz has been celebrated here a few times, and Locus... is another reason to celebrate." [9]
David Kopacz of Being Fully Human called the recording "a beautiful, catchy, challenging and dissonant album," and stated: "Definitely experimental jazz and experiments are often risky and don't always pay off, even when creative, but it is great when it all comes together." [10]
Chicago Underground is an avant-garde jazz ensemble formed in Chicago in 1997 based around the core duo of cornetist Rob Mazurek and drummer/percussionist Chad Taylor. They have recorded and performed as the Chicago Underground Duo, Trio, Quartet or Orchestra depending on how many additional musicians are included. The ensemble which has released numerous recordings on the Thrill Jockey and Delmark labels.
Rob Mazurek is an American composer, cornetist, and visual artist based in Chicago.
Chicago Underground may refer to:
Slon is the third album from the Chicago Underground Trio. The album was released in January 2004 on Thrill Jockey Records. This is their first release on Thrill Jockey, their first two albums were released by Delmark Records. The album was produced by Bundy K. Brown. The trio consists of Rob Mazurek on cornet, Noel Kupersmith on bass and Chad Taylor on drums. This is their last release with bassist Noel Kupersmith. Mazurek and Taylor have also combined as the Chicago Underground Duo and with the Chicago Underground Orchestra.
Possible Cube is an album by Chicago Underground Trio which was recorded in 1999 and released on the Delmark label.
Flamethrower is an album by Chicago Underground Trio which was recorded in 2000 and released on the Delmark label.
Playground is an album by Robert Mazurek Chicago Underground Orchestra which was released on the Delmark label in 1998.
Synesthesia is an album by Chicago Underground Duo which was recorded in 1999 and released on the Delmark label the following year.
Chad Taylor is an American drummer, percussionist, and composer. Taylor leads both the Chad Taylor Trio with Brian Settles and Neil Podgurski and Circle Down with Angelica Sanchez and Chris Lightcap. He is a founding member of the Chicago Underground along with Jeff Parker and Rob Mazurek.
Spiral Mercury is a live album by Pharoah & the Underground, featuring saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, trumpeter Rob Mazurek and drummer Chad Taylor of the Chicago Underground Duo, along with percussionist Mauricio Takara of the São Paulo Underground, bassist Matthew Lux of the Pulsar Quartet, and multi-instrumentalist Guilherme Granado. It was recorded on August 11, 2013, at the Jazz em Agosto Festival in Lisbon, and was released in 2014 by Clean Feed Records.
Chronicle is a live album by the Chicago Underground Trio, featuring trumpeter Rob Mazurek, bassist Jason Ajemian, and drummer Chad Taylor. It was recorded on July 21, 2006, at the German Cultural Center in Chicago, and was released in 2007 by Delmark Records in both CD and DVD formats, the latter directed by Raymond Salvatore Harmon.
Chicago Underground Quartet is the debut album by the jazz ensemble of the same name, featuring trumpeter Rob Mazurek, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Noel Kupersmith, and drummer Chad Taylor. It was recorded during August 2000 at Soma in Chicago, and was released in 2001 by Thrill Jockey.
Good Days is an album by the Chicago Underground Quartet, featuring trumpeter Rob Mazurek, guitarist Jeff Parker, keyboardist Josh Johnson, and drummer Chad Taylor. It was recorded during 2018 and 2019 at Big Ego in Long Beach California, and was released in 2020 by Astral Spirits Records.
A Night Walking Through Mirrors is a live album by the Chicago/London Underground, pairing two Americans, trumpeter Rob Mazurek and drummer Chad Taylor, with two British musicians, pianist Alexander Hawkins and bassist John Edwards. It was recorded on April 21, 2016, at Cafe Oto in London, and was released in 2017 by Cuneiform Records.
Age of Energy is an album by the Chicago Underground Duo, featuring multi-instrumentalists Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor. It was recorded on December 6, 2010, and June 30, 2011, at Bel Air Studios in Chicago, Illinois, and was issued in 2012 by Northern Spy Records as the group's first release for the label.
Boca Negra is an album by the Chicago Underground Duo, featuring multi-instrumentalists Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor. It was recorded during May 2009 at El Rocha Studios in São Paulo, Brazil, and was released in 2010 by the Thrill Jockey label.
In Praise of Shadows is an album by the Chicago Underground Duo, featuring multi-instrumentalists Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor. It was recorded during August 2005 at Soma Electronic Music Studios in Chicago, and was released in 2006 by the Thrill Jockey label.
12° of Freedom is the debut album by the Chicago Underground Duo, featuring multi-instrumentalists Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor. It was recorded during January and June 1997 at three different locations, and was released in 1998 by the Thrill Jockey label. Guitarist Jeff Parker also appears on three tracks.
Axis and Alignment is an album by the Chicago Underground Duo, featuring multi-instrumentalists Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor. It was recorded during the summer of 2001 at Soma Electronic Music Studios in Chicago, and was released in 2002 by the Thrill Jockey label.
Titration is the debut album by the free improvisation ensemble Active Ingredients. Led by drummer Chad Taylor, it features alto saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, trombonist Steve Swell, and double bassist Tom Abbs, as well as guest artists Rob Mazurek (cornet), David Boykin, and Avreeayl Ra (percussion). The album was recorded on July 5 and 6, 2002, and was released in 2003 by Delmark Records.