Twin Talk

The Chicago jazz ensemble Twin Talk specializes in spontaneous improvisations that feel inviting and approachable. Katie Ernst handles bass and vocals alongside drummer Andrew Green and saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi, whose deep musical rapport prompted the choice of a name drawn from cryptophasia, the private twin language. Both their live shows and studio work embrace unpredictability, often departing from prepared pieces during performances. Complex yet organic, their sound gains emotional depth from Ernst's singing. After issuing Twin Talk in 2016, they followed with the exploratory Weaver three years later, then delivered the partly improvised Twin Talk Live in 2024.

The musicians first collaborated in 2012 and put out Sightline as Laurenzi/Ernst/Green the next year. Local gigs, notably a strong showing at the Chicago Jazz Festival in 2014, led them to adopt Twin Talk in 2015 before unveiling their next album under that name in 2016. During his 2016-2017 stint touring with Bon Iver, Dustin Laurenzi caught Justin Vernon's attention when the trio played Minneapolis, resulting in an invitation to April Base. Limited to five days there, they composed and captured Weaver, which came out via 37d03d—the imprint started by Vernon and the National's Bryce Dessner—in 2019. At Shirk Studios in Chicago during 2023 they laid down several short sets that mix improvisation with structured tunes. Released on Shifting Paradigm Records the following year, Twin Talk Live captures their onstage vitality more faithfully than earlier efforts.