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 trio featuring
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, ...
along with bass guitarist
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. It was recorded and released during Phish's break from touring.
The album features extended instrumental electronic keyboard pieces mixed with lyrical tracks featuring vocals by McConnell. The band briefly toured in support of the album before taking a year off following the reformation of Phish in late 2002.
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 ...
, Jesse Jarnow called the album "an interesting and promising debut," and noted: "the three veteran instrumentalists mesh well, though it is apparent that they haven't playing as a unit for all too long."
Writing for ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'', Kerry L. Smith described the music as "groovy, playful and technically awing," and commented: "''Vida Blue'' is hypnotic and soothing -- a serene nightscape of shooting stars and floating keyboards."
Louis Miller of the ''
CMJ New Music Report
CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events and online media company, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music Monthly'' and ''CMJ New Music Report''. Th ...
'' stated that the group "spends its time pumping out a heavy, groove-laden jazz and funk mix that will have all the beatniks bopping along," and concluded: "this is one record that is sure not to strike out."
In an article for the
Hartford Courant
The ''Hartford Courant'' is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is considered to be the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States. A morning newspaper serving most of the state north of New Haven ...
, Jeff Puma wrote that "McConnell and company are willing to take musical chances, and that's what makes this album refreshing," but regretted that the band "will unjustly labor in Phish's shadow."
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, ...
- vocals, keyboards
*
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 guitar, vocals
*
Russell Batiste
David Russell Batiste Jr. (born December 12, 1965 ) is an American drummer based in - drums