Chicago Underground Duo - Synesthesia (2000)

Though the Chicago Underground Duo is hypnotically minimal in its aesthetic, Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor still make a lot of noise. On Synesthesia, the duo combines elements of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew-era fusion with a futuristic, technological sensibility that could only come out of Chicago. That's not to say that other cities aren't capable of such magic, but Chicago is home to so many electro-jazz-rock aficionados that, essentially, the Chicago Underground Duo is a product of its own musical environment. In fact, the head man of all of Chicago's jazz-tinged post-rock scene, Tortoise's John McEntire, engineered the record. Synesthesia brings out the brilliance of Taylor and Mazurek's sparse instrumentation as, for the most part, they use only a cornet, a keyboard, and drums to weave their plaintive and complex compositions. Mazurek's trumpeting skill is impeccable and his experimentation with Synesthesia's rhythm structures is mindblowing as he switches from totally free jazz, to hard bop, to acid jazz at the drop of a hat. Certainly, the lack of other instruments in the mix makes for a grand space to showcase both Mazurek's and Taylor's talents. With Synesthesia, the Chicago Underground Duo provides a strong link between experimental avant-garde jazz and jazz-flecked electronic music. A very provocative and beautiful record.