Anastasio Gives Phish-Heads Their Fix March 1, 2001 - Roanoke Times & World News by Ralph Berrier, Jr. If Phish's decision to take at least a two-year break left hordes of Phish-heads looking for a reason to go on, Trey Anastasio gave it to them Tuesday night. Anastasio, the scruffy-bearded, bespectacled, perpetually grinning front man and guitarist for the world's most popular jam band, made a stop on his 10-city solo tour at steamy, smoky, sold-out Burruss Auditorium. For Phish fans, it provided a fix while they wait with crossed fingers for their heroes' return. For non-fans - and, truth be told, there were probably few of them in attendance - it probably left them wondering what the heck this jam-band craze is all about. Anastasio led his five-piece band on a three-hour workout (minus a 30-minute intermission) that was loose, breezy and occasionally sloppy. Anastasio's guitar-playing is often compared with Jerry Garcia's, but on Tuesday he demonstrated that his bluesy, rolling solos are more akin to Duane Allman's. Old pals Tony Markellis on bass and Russ Lawton on drums were joined by a three-piece horn section featuring sax-man Dave ''The Truth'' Grippo and two members of Vermont's Youth Symphony, 21-year-old trumpet player Jennifer Hartswick and 18-year-old trombonist Andy Munoz. Even though the band fittingly opened its Mardis Gras show with the New Orleans-influenced ''Between Night and Day,'' much of the first set fluttered between old-style R&B and mutant-jazz experimentation that never settled into a cohesive groove. The evening's transcendent moment, though, arrived midway through the second set when the band left the stage and Anastasio, armed with just acoustic guitar, demonstrated his chops on ''Back on the Train'' and ''Velvet Scene.'' The band re-emerged, and the horn s ection led into the Anastasio-composed suite ''At the Barbecue'' and ''At the Gazebo'' - so named because Anastasio envisions his group as a ''community band playing at the gazebo.'' It was the sort of set that showed Anastasio's creativity and could make new converts out of those who aren't already baptized in the Phishy waters. Tuesday's show wasn't one that will make long-time fans forget their favorite Phish concerts, but it was certainly one that will hold them over for a while.