This trio effort was recorded in Montreal in December of 2011. You no doubt know of saxist/composer Matana Roberts from her rich and various catalogue, especially from her wonderful ongoing and ever-evolving series of “Coin Coin” projects, from solo to various group versions. Montreal-based guitarist Sam Shalabi also leads several bands, like Land of Kush and Shalabi Effect as well as collaborating with Alan Bishop and others. I’ve caught bassist Nicolas Caloia with the Ratchet Orchestra in Canada on a couple of occasions as well as with a great string trio with Tristan Honsinger and Joshua Zubot, who played here at DMG last week (10/1/15).
Although this disc sounds improvised, it does create a series of moods and scenes. While Ms. Roberts and Mr. Caloia are more straight forward, it is the work of Mr. Shalabi that creates that mysterious aura of reflection and quiet desperation. Since there is no drummer involved, it is Caloia’s bass that is the central rhythmic bottom-end anchor. Mr. Roberts’ alto sax sails, soars, shifts and sings calmly on top, dancing like a flame at times and often providing the focal point. A modest yet somehow intriguing effort that is calm, restless, intense and often fascinating at the same time.
