Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. (born July 28, 1949) is a former American professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball between and , most notably as an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won thr ...
, a band led by
Phish
Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon ...
keyboard player
Page McConnell
Page Samuel McConnell (born May 17, 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as the keyboardist and a songwriter for the band Phish.
In addition to having been a member of Phish since 1985, ...
. It was released in 2019 by ATO Records. On the album, which followed a 15-year recording hiatus, McConnell is joined by two original Vida Blue members, bassist
Oteil Burbridge
Oteil Burbridge is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the resurgence of the Allman Brothers Band ...
and drummer
Russell Batiste
David Russell Batiste Jr. (born December 12, 1965 ) is an American drummer based in , along with a new addition, guitarist Adam Zimmon. The
Spam Allstars
Spam Allstars are a United States nine-piece Hip hop, Latin, funk, and electronica band from Miami, Florida. The band has been described as "road warriors" because of their busy touring schedule. The band has performed at many music festivals i ...
also appear on two tracks.
Reception
In a review for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
, Timothy Monger wrote: "the musicianship and interplay between these musicians is excellent, and while ''Crossing Lines'' doesn't necessarily feel essential, it has its moments and marks a worthy third chapter in the band's canon."
Benjy Eisen, writing for ''
Relix
''Relix'', originally and occasionally later ''Dead Relix'', is a magazine that focuses on live and improvisational music. The magazine was launched in 1974 as a handmade newsletter devoted to connecting people who recorded Grateful Dead concert ...
'', called McConnell's lyrics "grown-up stuff," and stated that they "seem loaded with indecision, even paralysis, yet spoken from a place of secure identity." Regarding the album as a whole, he remarked: "Their two previous releases swung for the fences but Vida Blue hits this one out of park."
''Glide Magazines Shawn Donohue commented: "the DNA of all of these tracks screams to be explored and stretched out by live interactions on stage, however, the studio produced pristine sounds, digital flourishes and almighty groove anchors ''Crossing Lines''; Vida Blue's blissful return."
In an article for '' No Depression'', Anne Margaret Daniel called Zimmon "a welcome addition," and stated that, in relation to the band's previous releases, "''Crossing Lines'' brings a fresh, spicier, pop-driven electronic sound into the hot funk and cool jazz."
Kevin Hahn of ''Music Marauders'' wrote: "''Crossing Lines'' is a great way to bring Vida Blue and Page's solo catalog back into the forefront of the Phish world, and hopefully the jam-band landscape behind that... It is always a joy to see these 'supergroups' get back together."
Track listing
"Real Underground Soul Sound" composed by Russell Batiste. Remaining tracks composed by Page McConnell.
# "Analog Delay" – 5:57
# "Checking Out" – 5:15
# "Where Did It Go" – 5:50
# "Phaidon" – 4:50
# "Weepa" – 6:10
# "Maybe" – 7:12
# "Real Underground Soul Sound" – 7:57
# "If I Told You" – 11:01
Personnel
;Vida Blue
*
Page McConnell
Page Samuel McConnell (born May 17, 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as the keyboardist and a songwriter for the band Phish.
In addition to having been a member of Phish since 1985, ...
– keyboards, vocals
* Adam Zimmon – guitar
*
Oteil Burbridge
Oteil Burbridge is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the resurgence of the Allman Brothers Band ...
– bass
*
Russell Batiste
David Russell Batiste Jr. (born December 12, 1965 ) is an American drummer based in – drums
with
Spam Allstars
Spam Allstars are a United States nine-piece Hip hop, Latin, funk, and electronica band from Miami, Florida. The band has been described as "road warriors" because of their busy touring schedule. The band has performed at many music festivals i ...
(tracks 5 and 8):
* AJ Hill – saxophone
* Ted Zimmerman – trumpet
* Chad Bernstein – trombone
* Jose Elias – guitar
* Papacho Savon – congas
* Leandro González – congas
* Tomas Diaz – timbales
* Andrew Yeomanson – turntables, sampler