Rob Mazurek

One of the most original and representative artists of contemporary electroacoustic jazz, leader of groups such as Chicago Underground, Sao Paulo Underground, Black Cube SP, and the Exploding Star Orchestra, Chicago-based cornetist and composer Rob Mazurek is among the most visionary talents of contemporary music. Active on the jazz and improvisation scene since the mid-1990s, Mazurek has helped revitalise the Chicago scene, building a vital bridge between the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) generation and the younger generation, close to rock and electronic music. Founder of the Chicago Underground collective, with ensembles ranging from duo (he performed a memorable concert on the island of San Servolo two years ago) to orchestra, Mazurek was a member of Isotope 217 and collaborated with Gastr del Sol, Tortoise, Stereolab, Calexico, later leading an extraordinary quintet, the Starlicker trio and the overwhelming Exploding Star Orchestra, as well as São Paulo Underground and Black Cube SP.