A major force on Chicago’s singularly inventive music scene for two decades, cornetist Rob Mazurek has recorded with high profile artists such as Tortoise, Jim O'Rourke, Stereolab, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and is an intrepid sound explorer.
Skull Sessions combines two of Rob's groups: Sao Paulo Underground and Starlicker with additional personnel. The band is an international cast of masters, including drummer John Herndon (of Tortoise), vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz and flutist Nicole Mitchell, (both DownBeat poll winners on their respective instruments), Guilherme Granado on keyboards and electronics, Carlos Issa on guitar and electronics, Mauricio Takara on percussion and cavaquinho (Brazilian ukulele), and Thomas Rohrer on C melody saxophone and rabeca (a rustic Brazilian viola associated with the northeast). The fusion of these musicians ignites a beautiful cosmic burst!
The big bang that led to Skull Sessions detonated when the We Want Miles exhibition at SESC Sao Paulo requested that Mazurek devise a presentation related to his deep affinity for the music of Miles Davis. In characteristic fashion, he decided against recreating any of Davis’s music, instead composing new pieces and rearranging earlier works for the Octet’s particular personalities and unusual timbres. The resulting album is a exploratory album that puts great musicians and compositions together and trusts in them enough to simply let them go!
credits
released January 29, 2013
Rob Mazurek : cornet, ring modulator
Nicole Mitchell : piccolo, flute, voice
John Herndon : drums
Jason Adasiewicz : vibraphone
Mauricio Takara : cavaquinho, percussion
Guilherme Granado : keyboards, electronics
Thomas Roher: rabeca, C melody saxophone
Carlos Issa : guitar, electronics
“This music was created in response to a request to present something concerning my affinity towards the music of Miles Davis at the We Want Miles exhibition at SESC Sao Paulo Brazil. As I do not believe so much in re-creating someone else's music, I suggested I compose new music and re-arrange some previous music for this Octet for it's uniqueness of sonic timbre, somewhat strange instrumentation (cornet with ring modulator, rabeca (a north eastern brazilian viola), c melody saxophone, vibraphone, flute, piccolo, voice, noise guitar, electronics, bass synth, cavaquinho (a Brazilian ukulele), drums) and unique personalities.
This music is an amalgamation of ideas based on vocabulary I have been developing over the years with like-minded souls and various ensembles. My affinity and respect for the music of Miles Davis is total, and I sometimes make my music with the thought "what if Miles walked into the room while this music was happening...? Would he approve...?"... Probably not... But one must try....“ – Rob Mazurek 2012
supported by 40 fans who also own “Skull Sessions”
This record has such a magical flow to it, it seems to capture so directly the ups and downs of life, the joy of music and dance, and it's just so damn catchy and fun to listen to as well. Giles
supported by 39 fans who also own “Skull Sessions”
My god, what an absolutely incredible Suite. I'll admit, I've struggled to get into Pharoah Sanders due to diving headfirst into some of his most challenging catalogue and that never worked. This is the perfect place to restart. Floating Points is new for me and I can honestly say I've never heard synthesizer music this lush and organic before. the LSO is just perfect. This is one of those albums that any serious music fan needs in their life. The perfect swan song for the great Pharaoh! 5/5 ClassyMusicSnob