''Crossing Lines'' is an album by
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. (; July 28, 1949 – May 6, 2023) was an American professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1986, most notably as an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty ...
, a band led by
Phish
Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman, and keyboardist Page McConnell, all of whom perform vocals, with Anastasio being the ...
keyboard player
Page McConnell
Page Samuel McConnell (born May 17, 1963) is an American multi-instrumentalist, most noted for his work as the keyboardist and a songwriter for the band Phish.
McConnell joined Phish in 1985, and is the only member of its long-standing quartet li ...
. It was released in 2019 by
ATO Records
ATO Records (or According to Our Records) is an American independent record label based in New York City. The label was established in 2000 by Dave Matthews and manager Coran Capshaw.
ATO's roster includes My Morning Jacket, Brittany Howard, ...
. On the album, which followed a 15-year recording hiatus, McConnell is joined by two original Vida Blue members, bassist
Oteil Burbridge
Oteil Burbridge (born August 24, 1964) 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 t ...
and drummer
Russell Batiste, along with a new addition, guitarist Adam Zimmon. The
Spam Allstars also appear on two tracks.
Reception
In a review for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, 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 concer ...
'', 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) is an American multi-instrumentalist, most noted for his work as the keyboardist and a songwriter for the band Phish.
McConnell joined Phish in 1985, and is the only member of its long-standing quartet li ...
– keyboards, vocals
* Adam Zimmon – guitar
*
Oteil Burbridge
Oteil Burbridge (born August 24, 1964) 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 t ...
– bass
*
Russell Batiste – drums
with
Spam Allstars (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
References
{{Reflist
2019 albums
Vida Blue (band) albums
ATO Records albums