Slon (album)
Encyclopedia
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.
fish market
. This is their last release with bassist Noel Kupersmith, Jason Ajemian plays bass on their next release, Chronicle.
of The Guardian
wrote that they use them for "anything from ambient noise to throbbing riffs". He goes on to write that "Mazurek's inventive improvisations dance around Taylor's live, open-sounding kit, while Kupersmith's bass sound stays oddly, unfashionably low."
Rex Butters of All About Jazz
wrote that Slon has "heated high speed interplay and cold techno ice caps" and calls the musicians "gifted improvisers at the top of their game". In CMJ New Music Report
, Tad Hendrickson wrote that the production by Bundy K. Brown "helps bring the album into sharper focus" and calls the work "nicely done".
John Schacht listed the album as one of his top twenty favorite albums of 2004 in Creative Loafing
, calling the combo "the best jazz ensemble many jazz fans have never heard".
Chicago Underground Duo
Chicago Underground Duo is an avant-garde jazz duo consisting of cornetist Rob Mazurek and drummer/percussionist Chad Taylor. They formed in 1997, having both been members of Chicago Underground Orchestra...
. The album was released in January 2004 on Thrill Jockey Records
Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey Records is an American independent record label established in 1992 in New York City by former Atlantic Records A&R representative Bettina Richards.-History:...
. This is their first release on Thrill Jockey, their first two albums were released by Delmark Records
Delmark Records
Delmark Records is an independent American jazz and blues record label, based in Chicago since 1958. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when owner Bob Koester released a recording of the Windy City Six, a traditional jazz group, under the "Delmar" imprint.-History:Born in 1932 in...
. The album was produced by Bundy K. Brown
Bundy K. Brown
Bundy K. Brown is an American musician and recording engineer. He is best known for being a founding member of Tortoise and his production, engineering and remixes in the Chicago Post Rock scene....
. The trio consists of Rob Mazurek
Rob Mazurek
Rob Mazurek is an American composer, jazz musician, and visual artist originally from Chicago, Illinois. Mazurek now resides in São Paulo Brazil.-Biography:...
on cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, Noel Kupersmith on bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
and Chad Taylor on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. 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.
Overview
Slon combines the sounds of a traditional jazz combo with electronic overdubs. The songs were developed during their European No War Tour and written over a one month period then recorded in Chicago. The track "Palmero" includes recorded sounds from a SicilianSicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
fish market
Fish market
A fish market is a marketplace used for marketing fish products. It can be dedicated to wholesale trade between fishermen and fish merchants, or to the sale of seafood to individual consumers, or to both...
. This is their last release with bassist Noel Kupersmith, Jason Ajemian plays bass on their next release, Chronicle.
Reception
In comparison to their earlier work, Gregory McIntosh of Allmusic writes that the combo is "more focused on an overall concept for the record as an atmospheric listen" and that the album "is a document of a band that has really hit its stride". When commenting on the combo's use of computers John L. WaltersJohn L. Walters
John L. Walters is a British editor, critic and composer. He was a founding member of the band Landscape, best known for the 1981 hit ‘Einstein A Go-Go’ which reached no. 5 in the UK charts...
of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
wrote that they use them for "anything from ambient noise to throbbing riffs". He goes on to write that "Mazurek's inventive improvisations dance around Taylor's live, open-sounding kit, while Kupersmith's bass sound stays oddly, unfashionably low."
Rex Butters of All About Jazz
All About Jazz
All About Jazz is a leading jazz music website for enthusiasts and industry professionals based in Philadelphia in the United States.Founded by Michael Ricci in 1995, the Web-Site is maintained by a volunteer staff of writers, editors, and musicians, and provides coverage of all genres of jazz from...
wrote that Slon has "heated high speed interplay and cold techno ice caps" and calls the musicians "gifted improvisers at the top of their game". In CMJ New Music Report
CMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ New Music Monthly was a monthly music magazine with interviews, reviews, and special features. Each issue included a compact disc with 15 to 24 songs by well established bands, unsigned bands, and everything in between...
, Tad Hendrickson wrote that the production by Bundy K. Brown "helps bring the album into sharper focus" and calls the work "nicely done".
John Schacht listed the album as one of his top twenty favorite albums of 2004 in Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing
CL Inc. is the Tampa, Florida-based publisher of three city newsweeklies and their associated websites. Each of the papers focuses on local news, politics, arts and entertainment, and restaurants...
, calling the combo "the best jazz ensemble many jazz fans have never heard".
Track listing
All tracks written by the Chicago Underground Trio- "Protest" (6:29)
- "Slon" (4:56)
- "Zagreb" (6:39)
- "Sevens" (3:00)
- "Campbell" (6:57)
- "Kite" (4:35)
- "Palermo" (3:20)
- "Shoe Lace" (4:32)
- "Pear" (3:02)
Credits
- Rob MazurekRob MazurekRob Mazurek is an American composer, jazz musician, and visual artist originally from Chicago, Illinois. Mazurek now resides in São Paulo Brazil.-Biography:...
– cornetCornetThe cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, computersSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically... - Noel Kupersmith – bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
, computers - Chad Taylor – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Bundy K. BrownBundy K. BrownBundy K. Brown is an American musician and recording engineer. He is best known for being a founding member of Tortoise and his production, engineering and remixes in the Chicago Post Rock scene....
– engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Sheila Sachs – designAlbum coverAn album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
- Bill Skibbe – tape splicing
Chart performance
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | CMJ Top 75 CMJ New Music Monthly CMJ New Music Monthly was a monthly music magazine with interviews, reviews, and special features. Each issue included a compact disc with 15 to 24 songs by well established bands, unsigned bands, and everything in between... |
70 |
| CMJ Jazz Albums | 6 |