Vida Blue | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 25, 2002 (US) | |||
Recorded | 2002 | |||
Genre | jazz fusion, funk rock [1] | |||
Length | 44:09 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Russell Batiste, Page McConnell | |||
Vida Blue chronology | ||||
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Vida Blue is the debut album by Vida Blue, a trio featuring Phish keyboard player Page McConnell along with bass guitarist Oteil Burbridge 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.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Rolling Stone | [1] |
Jambands: The Complete Guide to the Players, Music, & Scene | [3] |
In a review for AllMusic, 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." [2]
Writing for Rolling Stone , 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." [1]
Louis Miller of the CMJ New Music Report 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." [4]
In an article for the Hartford Courant, 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." [5]
The Meters are an American funk band formed in 1965 in New Orleans by Zigaboo Modeliste (drums), George Porter Jr. (bass), Leo Nocentelli (guitar) and Art Neville (keyboards). The band performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977 and played an influential role as backing musicians for other artists, including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John, and Allen Toussaint. Their original songs "Cissy Strut" and "Look-Ka Py Py" are considered funk classics.
Page Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist, most noted for his work as the keyboardist and a songwriter for the band Phish.
Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit is a jazz fusion group founded by Col. Bruce Hampton. The band gained popularity in the Atlanta club scene in the early 1990s and went on to tour with the first H.O.R.D.E. Tour. During their formative years, the band was composed of Bruce Hampton, Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe, Matt Mundy, and Count M'Butu. Jeff Mosier and Charlie Williams were members of the band during the early years, but left to pursue other endeavors. Although the band was never commercially successful, their combination of bluegrass, rock, Latin, blues, jazz, funk, and impeccable chops became a template for future bands.
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 from 1997 through 2014, and as a founding member of the band Dead & Company. Burbridge was also a founding member of The Aquarium Rescue Unit and Tedeschi Trucks Band, with whom his brother Kofi Burbridge was the keyboardist and flautist. He has worked with other musicians including Bruce Hampton, Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Bill Kreutzmann and Derek Trucks.
Vida Blue is an electronic trio featuring Page McConnell (Phish), with Oteil Burbridge, and Russell Batiste.
Hittin' the Note is the twelfth and final studio album by the American Southern rock group the Allman Brothers Band. Released through Sanctuary Records, it is their only studio album to include both slide guitar player Derek Trucks and bass player Oteil Burbridge and marks the full-time return of guitar player Warren Haynes to the band. It was also their only studio album not to include original guitarist Dickey Betts.
Live Phish Vol. 1 was recorded live at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York on December 14, 1995. The show occurred towards the end of the band's 1995 fall tour, which featured a tour-long chess game between Phish and its audience. The second disc begins with a fan making a chess move onstage on behalf of the audience.
Live Phish Vol. 3 was recorded live at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien, New York, on September 14, 2000. The show was part of the band's final tour before taking an indefinite extended hiatus three weeks later.
Live Phish Vol. 5 was recorded live at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin, a small town that is located 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 8, 2000.
The Illustrated Band is the second album from Vida Blue, featuring Phish keyboardist Page McConnell along with bassist Oteil Burbridge and drummer Russell Batiste.
Live at the Fillmore is a DVD from Vida Blue, a trio led by Phish keyboardist Page McConnell.
In a Perfect World is a 1994 studio album by the Aquarium Rescue Unit. It was the band's first studio album, following two live releases, and their first record following the departure of former frontman Bruce Hampton.
Peakin' at the Beacon is a live album by the rock group the Allman Brothers Band. It was recorded at the Beacon Theatre in New York City in March, 2000, and released later that year.
Kofi Burbridge was an American keyboardist and flautist of the blues and blues rock group Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Crossing Lines is an album by Vida Blue, a band led by Phish keyboard player Page McConnell. 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 and drummer Russell Batiste, along with a new addition, guitarist Adam Zimmon. The Spam Allstars also appear on two tracks.
Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit is a live album by the band of the same name. It was recorded at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, Georgia, and was released in 1992 by Capricorn Records. On the album, band leader Bruce Hampton is joined by guitarist Jimmy Herring, mandolin player Matt Mundy, keyboard player Chuck Leavell, bassist Oteil Burbridge, conga player Count Mbutu, and drummer Jeff Sipe, listed as "Apt. Q-258."
The Family Secret is the second album by Oteil and the Peacemakers, a band led by bassist Oteil Burbridge. It was released on CD in 2003 by Artists House. On the album, Burbridge is joined by Mark Kimbrell on guitar, Jason Crosby on keyboards and violin, Kebbi Williams on saxophone, Paul Henson on vocals, and Chris Fryar on drums. The disc is accompanied by a DVD that features a video of the recording session, a lesson with Burbridge, interviews, lead sheets, and more.
Croakin' at Toad's is a live album by jam band supergroup Frogwings. The group's sole release, it was recorded at Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut and The Wetlands in New York, New York, and was released on CD in 2000 by Butch Trucks' label Flying Frog Records. The album features John Popper on harmonica and vocals, Jimmy Herring and Derek Trucks on guitar, Kofi Burbridge on keyboards and flute, Oteil Burbridge on bass, Marc Quinones on percussion, and Butch Trucks on drums.
The Calling is an album by the Aquarium Rescue Unit. The band's second record following the departure of former frontman Bruce Hampton, it was recorded in 2000 at Exocet Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, and was released in 2003 by Inio Music. The album features guitarist Jimmy Herring, keyboardist and flutist Kofi Burbridge, bassist Oteil Burbridge, vocalist Paul Henson, and drummer Sean O'Rourke, plus a number of guest musicians.
The Baker's Dozen was a series of thirteen concerts performed by Vermont-based jam band Phish between July 21 and August 6, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Each night featured a completely unique setlist with no songs repeated throughout the event, with the band playing 237 songs in total. The full set of shows was released as a box set entitled The Complete Baker's Dozen, alongside a three-disc live album of highlights, The Baker's Dozen: Live at Madison Square Garden.