The opening improv that is now opening the shows becomes the destination for some choice stunt guitar work from Belew and some rather snazzy-jazzy Requiem-style drumming from Bruford. Although these moments are in a sense tuning the air, as the phrase goes, it’s almost a foretaste of what was to come with the ProjeKcts. A shame the Double Trio wasn’t able to investigate this more abstract, experimental vocabulary further.
It’s hard to remember that for many in the audience Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto were still unknown quantities. While Pat’s presence was perhaps more obviously appreciable, the house mix wasn’t always so generous as far as Gunn was concerned. That said, One Time is a real pipperoo with some beautiful embellishments from Trey Gunn in the middle section.
Of course, the Two Sticks improv provided Trey with a spotlight and, for the avoidance of doubt, it’s Trey’s silvery, higher-pitched tone that opens this one. There’s a gorgeous moment where his sinuous notes swoon and sway against Levin’s muscular ostinato. Much like the opening improv, interludes such as this also provide a glimpse into possible avenues that wouldn’t be properly explored until the fraKctalisation of the band. This moment of calm acts as the bridge into a truly riotous Indiscipline in which Belew is on blistering form.
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