Trey Anastasio Album Reveiw April 27, 2002 - LA Jambands Zine by Vince Dorazi Album Review - Trey Anastasio In the fall of 2000, after 15 solid years of touring, jam gods Phish performed their last live show, before taking a well-deserved "indefinite" hiatus. After the passing of Jerry Garcia in August of 1995, Phish took over where the Grateful Dead left off. Thousands of nomadic "Deadheads," who were now without a band to follow, took to the road with Phish on their constantly touring psychedelic roadshow. During the past decade, Phish quietly became one of America's top grossing touring bands by selling out huge arenas, night after night, to legions of loyal fans who travelled around the world to see their favorite band. This phenomen came to a head when over 80,000 fans journeyed to the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the Florida everglades to ring in 2000 with Phish, who performed a midnight to sunrise marathon set. Now, deep into the second year of their hiatus, Phish's lead man and guitarist Trey Anastasio is releasing his first solo effort on Phish's label, Elektra Records. Anastasio is backed by a band, with whom he has toured, first as a power trio with bassist Tony Markellis and drummer Russ Lawton in 1999, and eventually acquired a horn section, and keyboardist in 2001. The self-titled project, which is due out in late April, was jointly produced by Anastasio and Bryce Goggin, who helped produce Phish's last studio album, "Farmhouse." All the tracks for the album were recorded at a 150 year-old barn outside of Burlington, Vermont, which Anastasio converted into a recording studio. The album offers a virtual history of American musical styles spanning from the past, and catapults them into the future. Suprisingly enough, Anastasio lays low with his guitar on most of the albums tracks, while letting the ensemble accompanying him create the depth and texture of the songs. Anastasio, who's musical style can be likened to a 21st century Jimi Hendrix, only lets it flow on a couple of tracks, including the funky, "Push on 'til the Day," and the hard-edged "Mr. Completely." The album's opening track, "Alive Again," which will also be the first single released from the album, glides along to a serpentine calypso rhythm, which is accompanied by a tight horn arrangement, reminiscent of Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party." The tune, with its chorus of, "Summer's comin' and I'd like a review" must have surely been written with Harry Belafonte in mind. The tracks "Cayman Review," and "Night Speaks to a Woman," both have a 70's down and funky, bluesy feel. While "Money, Love and Change," and "Ether Sunday," both feature a very 50's vibe. Two of the tunes on the album, "At the Gazebo," and "Ray Dawn Balloon," feature an accompanying 35 piece orchestra, which gives Anastasio the chance to explore his newest musical hobby of composing pieces for symphonies. And both of these tunes are a testament as to just how talented of a composer Anastasio is. The single tune on the album that signifies Anastasio's maturing as a songwriter, is the beautifully haunting "Flock of Words." The song's heartfelt lyrics are given a boost by the harmonizing of vocals between Anastasio and trumpet player, Jennifer Hartswick. The lyrics and feel of the song translate into a very serious piece, in contrast to the silly, fun lyrics that accompanied most of Anastasio's work with Phish. While collaborating with the other members of Phish, Anastasio took his fans to the outer reaches of time and space with his guitar. Now, with his new solo project, he is exploring the history of music, and breathing a new life into it, so that it may continue to bring us joy in the future. Keep an eye out for the self-titled debut "Trey Anastasio," in stores April 30. Anastasio and his band will also be performing May 29 in Los Angeles, at the Greek Theatre, as part of a coast to coast 23 date run. For more information on the album, and the Trey Anastasio Band tour, log onto: www.phish.com.