Chronicle (Chicago Underground Trio album)

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.[1][2][3][4]

Chronicle
Live album by
Released2007
RecordedJuly 21, 2006
VenueGerman Cultural Center, Chicago
GenreFree jazz
Length1:13:55
LabelDelmark
DE 573 (CD)
DVD 1573 (DVD)
ProducerRob Mazurek, Robert G. Koester, Raymond Salvatore Harmon (DVD)
Chicago Underground Trio chronology
Slon
(2004)
Chronicle
(2007)

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
The Free Jazz Collective     [5]
PopMatters          [6]

In a review for AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos wrote: "At times deadpan, often spirited, spiritual and symmetrical with plenty of ideas that work well, the group succeeds in clearly bringing its point across, and those who enjoy this type of pure improvising should find it intriguing."[1]

Seamus Seoighe of All About Jazz called the album a "sonic spiritual journey," and stated: "the Chicago Underground is constantly presenting music that is innovative, new and, without a doubt, boundary-breaking."[7] AAJ's Jerry D'Souza commented: "Chicago Underground has never shied away from being bold and innovative. They prove it all over again with this performance, where everything is completely improvised."[8]

Writing for JazzTimes, David Whiteis remarked: "Our preconceived expectations of what things might be are challenged, mocked and then reimagined, only to dissolve and re-emerge yet again in new forms."[9]

A reviewer for The Free Jazz Collective noted: "The band takes its time to discover the music, to transform it, to think of new angles, but the overall structure is essential, this is free improv along fixed paths. This is avant-garde jazz or experimental jazz, but then with soul."[5]

In an article for PopMatters, Will Layman wrote: "There are many times during Chronicle when you wonder — what is that guy playing? Often, you will not be able to decipher it... The music presented here is daring, compelling, occasionally vexing, but always alive with interest."[6]

Regarding the DVD release, Vish Khanna of Exclaim! stated: "Coupled with intense and dynamic playing from the Chicago Underground Trio, the visual aspects of Chronicle are alluring and disorienting."[10]

Track listing edit

Composed by the Chicago Underground Trio.

  1. "Initiation" – 5:23
  2. "Resistance" – 7:43
  3. "Power" – 28:27
  4. "Crisis" – 13:20
  5. "Transformation" – 5:22
  6. "Transcendence" – 13:43

Personnel edit

  • Rob Mazurek – cornet, computer, synthesizer, electric celeste, gong, cymbal, bamboo flute, Moogerfooger pedals
  • Jason Ajemian – acoustic bass, electronics
  • Chad Taylor – drums, vibraphone, marimba, mbira, percussion

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Nastos, Michael G. "Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "Chicago Underground Trio – Chronicle". Delmark Records. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "DVD: Chicago Underground Trio – Chronicle". Delmark Records. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Chicago Underground Trio – Chronicle". The Free Jazz Collective. June 16, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Layman, Will (July 22, 2007). "The Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle (DVD)". PopMatters. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Seoighe, Seamus (August 22, 2010). "Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle". All About Jazz. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  8. ^ D'Souza, Jerry (June 25, 2007). "Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle". All About Jazz. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Whiteis, David (July 1, 2007). "Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle". JazzTimes. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Khanna, Vish (May 25, 2007). "Chicago Underground Trio: Chronicle". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 24, 2023.