Trey Anastasio - Plasma May 16, 2003 - Pulse (Tower Records) By Staff Album Review - Plasma For the two-CD PLASMA, Trey Anastasio continues down the funky, world-music path of his 2002 self-titled debut, which found him eschewing the avant-jazzy tendencies of his first non-Phish project, Surrender to the Air. For this live set, Anastasio offers seven previously unreleased songs recorded at nine separate locales including a Pompano Beach, FL soundcheck. Leading a nonet of sidemen, the Phish guitarist still draws on jazz for inspiration whether he's chugging along via the irresistible Afro-Cuban groove of the opener "Curlew's Call" or swinging like Benny Goodman on a remake of his old band's instrumental "Magilla." Phishheads will also be pleased to discover the inclusion of a pair from FARMHOUSE, the insistent "First Tube" and a sinewy sounding "Sand" taken from a June 2002 performance at New Jersey's PNC Bank Arts Center. With a five-man horn section providing the punch, Anastasio has fun digging into a sweet cover of Bob Marley's "Small Axe" and a 20-minute plus version of "Night Speak To a Woman," the only cut taken from the Vermont native's debut. On it, the original version is twisted and morphed to include varying time changes, furious jams, and a co-vocal slot filled by trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick. Article © 2003 Tower Records