Performers

Chicago Underground Duo (USA/Brazil)

Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor last performed in Guelph as the Chicago Underground Duo in 2001. Since then, they have maintained and developed the project despite hectic touring and performance from disparate home bases: Taylor in New York and Mazurek in Brazil. Their latest record, Boca Negra (Thrill Jockey), is a feature for Taylor's propulsive and often melodic combination of drumkit and vibraphone, and for Mazurek's expansive cornet and laptop playing.

At times, especially when they play just drums and cornet, the duo evokes the very free and danceable spirit of Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell, though, with the extended textural palette of Mazurek's laptop, the music can be draw on numerous other fields from the ambient to the psychedelic, or both at once.

The Chicago Underground Duo creates an elaborate and cohesive sound-world that is more expansive than one would expect from just two instrumentalists.