The Horns of TAB 2010
2.8.10 - Charlottesville (K.Lorenz)
Trey has completed his first two shows of tour, and so far so good. Combining old staples, a handful of new songs, and a dynamic three-piece horn section of Russell Remington (alto sax, flute,) Jen Hartswick (trumpet,) and Natalie Cressman (trombone,) this seven-piece incarnation of Classic TAB has begun to carve out its own sonic niche in band history. These horn players have often laid back at the beginning of groovier songs (e.g. “Sand,”and “Jibboo”), allowing the four-piece to chug away, while Trey leads the troops out with his six-string wizardry. Gradually they have oozed into these jams, first providing sonic backdrops, and then engaging Trey and Ray in more earnest improvisation.
2.8.10 - (T.Wickersty)
On other, more composed pieces, the horn arrangements have been bolder than in the past, bringing the brass to the forefront of the music, sharing leads with Trey. Giving songs like “Shine,” and “Valentine” a retro-vibe, evoking the sounds of the ’70’s with powerful washes and parallel playing, the horns also provide more intricate work on the band’s Afro-Cuban pieces like “Burlap Sack and Bumps,” “Last Tube,” or “Mozambique.” In these polyrhythmic performances, the horns offer multiple solos and leads for Trey and Ray to play off, creating large-group interplay.
More than anything, Remington, Hartswick, and Cressman bring a diversity to TAB, allowing the band to explore more musical feels than they could as a four piece in 2008. From the jazz-based “Birdwatcher” and “Magilla” to the anthemic “Push On Til the Day” and “Valentine,” and from the the grooves of “Night Speaks to a Woman” and “Mr.Completely,” to the textures of “Curlew’s Call” and “Money, Love and Change,” Trey’s current horn section has brought fresh creativity and energy to the mix. With only a pair of shows under their belt, some very enticing music could emerge from this tour before all is said and done. Stay tuned.
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Trey @ Charlottesville (Photo: Keith Lorenz)
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Jams of the Day:
“Liquid Time” 2.9.10 II
Thi
s Party Time track provided a highlight from Trey’s 9:30 Club performance on Tuesday night. With extensive guitar-flute interplay, this jam carried a unique melodic theme; impressive results for the piece’s second-ever live incarnation.
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“Stash > Strange Design” 7.1.95 II SBD
Another in our week of classic jams.
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
3.18.97 Flynn Theatre, Burlington, VT < Torrent
3.18.97 Flynn Theatre, Burlington, VT < Megaupload
A celebration of Ben & Jerry’s new Phish Food ice cream, and a benefit for the newly-formed Waterwheel Foundation, this 1997 Burlington benefit show goes out via reader request to Casey!
I. Cinnamon Girl*, NICU, Sample in a Jar, Punch You In the Eye , My Soul, Beauty of My Dreams, Harry Hood, Cars Trucks Buses#, Suzy Greenberg#, Character Zero#
II: Taste, Drowned > Prince Caspian, David Bowie, Love Me, I Told You So*^, Love Me Like a Man*^, Waste, Chalk Dust Torture, Slave to the Traffic Light
E: Hello My Baby, Funky Bitch#
*debut
# w/ Dave Grippo on alto sax and James Harvey on trombone
^w/ Tammy Fletcher of The Disciples on vocals
Notes: Free Ice cream provided by Ben & Jerry’s for the entire crowd.
Source: FOB Schoeps mk4+mk8 > Schoeps PS > SBM1 > D8
Tags: 2010, Classic TAB
I may go play in the snow now
I was there dude! Second row, me and some neighbors helped to hoist Tammy Fletcher up on stage. It was 20 below 0 when the concert let out on to the Burlington streets, and the ice cream handed out was frozen so solid the little wooden spoons were useless!! The last time i got the feeling that Phish was playing in my livingroom, will carry it with me forever. thanks!!