Rob Mazurek

Origin

Jersey City, NJ

Years active

1983–present

Genres

jazz, experimental, avant-garde, electronic, free jazz, post-rock, tropicalia

Instruments

cornet, electronics, piano, vocals, piccolo trumpet, sampler, bells, keyboards, modular synth, harmonium, voice, flutes

Biography

Rob Mazurek is a highly acclaimed American composer, cornetist, improviser, and visual artist, born on July 8, 1965, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He began his musical journey in the mid-1980s on the Chicago music scene, later moving to Brazil in 2000, where he immersed himself in new musical influences. This period in Brazil significantly shaped his artistic output, leading to the formation of the São Paulo Underground with Guilherme Granado and Mauricio Takara, a group dedicated to exploring and expanding Brazilian musical traditions.

Mazurek is known for his multidisciplinary approach, focusing on electro-acoustic composition, improvisation, performance, painting, sculpture, video, film, and installation. He has led and composed for numerous ensembles, including the influential Exploding Star Orchestra, Chicago Underground Collective, and São Paulo Underground. His work often blends genres such as jazz, free jazz, post-rock, Brazilian rhythms, and electronic music, creating a unique and experimental sonic landscape. He has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Pharoah Sanders, Roscoe Mitchell, and Naná Vasconcelos.

Throughout his career, Mazurek has released over 70 recordings, featuring more than 400 original compositions. He has received numerous commissions and awards, and his work has been featured at major festivals and concert halls worldwide. Mazurek currently resides in Marfa, Texas, continuing to push the boundaries of sound exploration as a composer, performer, and visual artist.