While on tour supporting
Lightning Dreamers
in the spring of 2023, the
Exploding Star Orchestra
assembled and led by cornetist, composer, and visual artist
Rob Mazurek
played his Chicago hometown for the first time in five years. They performed under the Dome at Chicago's Adler Planetarium under a psychedelic light projection of
Mazurek
's visual art. The
ESO
for this performance consisted of nine musicians.
conducted and played cornet. His accompanists included flutist
Nicole Mitchell
, cellist
Tomeka Reid
, electric pianists/synthesists
Angelica Sanchez
and
Craig Taborn
, European bassist
Ingebrigt Håker Flaten
, drummers
Gerald Cleaver
Chad Taylor
, and
Damon Locks
on voice, electronics, and samplers.
This was a continuous performance. Its five formal compositions (all gateways to group improvisation) all segue together. The brief opening section, "Dream Sleeper," sounds like
Miles Davis
'
Bitches Brew
band soundtracking a sci-fi movie. "Black River" is introduced by flute, textured electronics, cornet, cello, and a circular bass line. Spacious, even eerie conversation between
Mitchell
,
Reid
, and the pianists breaks the jam wide open as
slowly states the melodic vamp that gives way to tight yet canny group improvisation. "Underneath the Star Dome" is the set's "single," and its most representative example energetically, harmonically, rhythmically, and atmospherically.
loves circular rhythms so much that here, as in many of his other compositions, the rolling, syncopated beats become a canvas for improvisation.
's cello comes close to a harmonic theme, but solos by
Sanchez
Taborn
push the tune's boundaries, opening the dynamic and harmonic frames for
to bring his cornet to the fore and assert yet another theme amid the spacey murk. It's followed by the equally lengthy "Parable 1A," which boasts a gorgeous multivalent palette of Latin-inspired rhythms under
's lithe, elegant Brazilian fusion-influenced soloing that draws the band to her magnetically and inspires her to push further. The keyboardists create an ethereal platform under her; it sounds like a bridge between
Hermeto Pascoal
and early
Weather Report
.
has worked extensively with Brazilian musicians, and their influence has marked him. It is arguably the album's finest track. Closer "Parable 3000" is introduced by circular space funk from the pianists and rhythm section before
digs out the melodic vamp.
underscores her in unison as the drummers deliver a nearly martial rhythm ballasted by
Håker Flaten
solos in the margins. The cello solo is a journey in itself as
traces the theme, doubles her lines (with the aid of electronics), and injects a polytonal mode that works harmonically and rhythmically before
solos behind her with augmented chords and slightly dissonant vamps. All of
's albums are brimming with ideas and top-notch musical execution, but this looser, more spontaneous presentation not only equals the fine
, it stands head and shoulders above it for its in-the-moment, on-the-money creativity, communicative musicality, and boundaryless communication. ~ Thom Jurek