Since guitarist
Trey Anastasio is the leader of
Phish, it would seem that he would sound nearly identical to his band when he's on his own. Not so.
Surrender to the Air, his first solo release, recalls a free form,
improvisation-based
jazz record more than hippie
rock; in that sense, it is close to the actual spirit of
the Grateful Dead, if not their sound.
Anastasio has assembled a diverse,
experimental band featuring guitarist
Marc Ribot, trumpeter
Michael Ray, keyboardist
John Medeski, and saxophonist
Marshall Allen. With such a stellar cast, it isn't surprising that
Anastasio lets his fellow musicians cut loose. Everyone improvises over a loose structure, disregarding conventional notions of melody or rhythms. Though
Anastasio doesn't solo as much as some of his comrades, his open-minded spirit is evident throughout the record. Though many
Phish fans might not initially enjoy
Surrender to the Air, the guitarist should be commended for not resting on his laurels. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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