Vida Blue - The Illustrated Band December 20, 2003 - Hear/Say By Jesse Jarnow n Album Review - The Illustrated Band Vida Blue's The Illustrated Band is a regular jamfest. No, really. The all-star trio, led by Phish keyboardist Page McConnell with Allman Brothers' bassist Oteil Burbridge and Funky Meters' drummer Russell Batiste, are joined by the Miami-based Spam All-Stars for a four-cut, 60-minute Afro-fusion excursion. The climaxes simmer patiently through playing that only rarely deigns to be flashy, and there are certainly no songs. In fact, there are so few concessions to the non-jam world that it's almost ballsy. Seemingly tailor-made for Friday night hang sessions, the disc eases from conversation to conversation and groove to groove with considerable pleasure. On "Charmpit," McConnell cuts loose with long, swinging piano runs all but absent from his Phish work. On "Little Miami (Reputation)" he spices it into textural overdrive with Rhodes bursts and organ swells. Occasionally, the disc sinks into DJ thwack and wah pedal malaise, though less than one would fear, given the setting. Batiste and Burbridge temper their usual showboating and play polite rhythmic hosts as guests enter and exit. Like a happening party, the listener can wander in and out without missing much, get a beer, have a smoke and always come back to hot playing. Review © 2003 Hear/Say