Just before the world shut down its door to prevent any live gigs, the team of guitarist Ben Monder, saxist Tony Malaby and drummer Tom Rainey snuck in one more show at NYC’s 55 Bar. Luckily it was recorded, so we have a memory of how life used to be.
The album consists of a three part “Suite 3320,” with Monder slowly undulating during the opening moments with the team joining in for an impressionistic aura that slowly builds up with tenorist Malaby and Rainey creating some frenzied climaxes before the 17 minute opening fades away. The 30 minute “Part II” mixes drum patterns with guitar echoes and effects and loops, and Malaby’s soprano floating over the deep pulsations that evolve into a spacey rock jam. The concluding 15 minute pieces has Monder doing some sounds akin to Robert Fripp, with guitar abstractions contrasting with shrill sax declarations. Spontaneous but not combusting.