Playground is an album by Robert Mazurek Chicago Underground Orchestra which was released on the Delmark label in 1998.
Reception
In his review for AllMusic, Rick Watrous states: "A revelation. Cornetist Mazurek and his Chicago Underground Orchestra create some of the freshest sounds of late-'90s jazz. Mazurek and Parker's original tunes have the loose improvisatory feel of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock's late-'60s compositions, giving soloists free reign [sic] to strut their stuff. ... Imaginative use of instrumental colors and combinations prevail throughout the album".
On All About Jazz Jack Bowers said: "This is an interesting and varied session... Mazurek has abandoned neither melody, harmony nor rhythm, and the band's hard-bop origins can also be discerned from time to time ... Throughout, Rob and the band shrewdly employ uncommon elements - the sound of a glockenspiel or bamboo flute, for example - to accentuate their singular point of view. Everyone is on the same page, and those who fancy Jazz that veers slightly off the beaten path without self-indulgent cerebralism should find this picturesque Playground well-suited to whatever musical byways they might care to pursue"
Track listing
All compositions by Robert Mazurek except where noted
"Blow Up" (Herbie Hancock) − 8:17
"Flamingos Dancing On Luminescent Moonbeams" − 7:43
"Boiled Over" − 8:08
"Le Sucrier Velours" (Duke Ellington) − 2:06
"Components Changes" (Jeff Parker) − 6:23
"Playground" − 10:23
"Jeff's New Idea" (Parker) − 6:34
"The Inner Soul of H" − 3:02
"Whitney" (Parker) − 7:07
"Ostinato" − 8:08
Personnel
Robert Mazurek – cornet, bell, bamboo flute, toy trumpet
Jeff Parker – guitar, cowbell, recorder
Sara P. Smith − trombone, glockenspiel, recorder, muffin tin, voice, cymbals
Chris Lopes − bass, India flute, voice
Chad Taylor – drums, street sign
John Herndon − bongos (track 1) Dan Bitney − congas (track 1) Tony Pinciotti − percussion