Trey Anastasio - Plasma May 1, 2003 - Arizona Daily Wildcat By Kevin Smith Album Review - Plasma In his day job, Trey Anastasio is the guitar virtuoso behind the jam flagship that is Phish. There are few guitar players on the planet who can match Anastasio’s effortless riffs and originality. The guy can tear through just about any piece of guitar tablature that’s been written and take its key elements to dizzying new heights. After Phish went on hiatus a few years back, Anastasio joined the three-piece Oysterhead along with Primus bassist Les Claypool and Police drummer Stewart Copeland. The band recorded an album, toured behind it and then went on hiatus as well. Somewhere before or after that, Anastasio recorded a self-titled debut solo record. The record was jazzier, funkier and more centered than anything put on wax for Phish or Oysterhead. Plasma is a double live album taken from fall/summer touring behind the solo material. The album has more in common with Ozomatli and various world/jazz music than anything else. For instance, horns are featured on just about every track. Curiously, only one song, “Night Speaks to a Woman,” is included from his actual debut, albeit thoroughly at 22:50 minutes. Perhaps Anastasio decided not to bog listeners down with songs they’ve heard many times before. The Phish catalogue is represented with “First Tube” and “Magilla.” A little disappointing is that Bob Marley’s “Small Axe” is teasingly played instrumentally for three and a half minutes with no vocals. For “phans,” however, this live-double-disc screams sunshine and will make for an excellent road soundtrack as Anastasio’s other band (hint: not Oysterhead) hits the summer tour circuit for the first time in three years. Article © 2003 Arizona Daily Wildcat