Exploding Star Orchestra

Exploding Star Orchestra is an ensemble founded by its trumpeter and director Rob Mazurek. The size of the orchestra and its membership remains fluid between recordings. They generally draw from Chicago's vibrant and diverse jazz scene, including veterans Jeff Parker (of Tortoise) and Damon Locks (of Trenchfooot and Black Monument Ensemble). Their music comes with no strict blueprints other than being avant-garde, psychedelic, and fusion friendly. It can shift from funky to high concept jazz in back to back pieces, all subject to Mazurek's overall vision, his compositional scope and consistently meticulous arrangements. There are some classical type of modern music elements in his pieces as well. The orchestra produces challenging music that is also highly rewarding.