12° of Freedom

The Chicago Underground project has taken many forms over the years, from a trio all the way up to an orchestra, but its most basic incarnation is the musical brotherhood of cornetist Rob Mazurek and percussionist Chad Taylor. This debut LP by the duo hinted at the many fertile territories they would explore for decades to come, including earthy, conversational horn-and-drum free jazz — clearly informed by both Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell’s classic duo sessions, and Bill Dixon’s radical textural experiments — and chamber-music-like reflections for piano and vibraphone, featuring another frequent Underground associate, the quietly masterful guitarist Jeff Parker.