16 years since their last studio album –Vida Blue is back with the funky Crossing Lines. The original trio of keyboardist/bandleader Page McConnell, bassist Oteil Burbridge and drummer Russell Batiste welcome Adam Zimmon (Shakira, Ziggy Marley) on guitar to the party for this side project get-down.
Legendary in the jam community as individuals, when they unite the original trio brings their high-level credentials to the forefront around vibrant production. “Analog Delay” is soaring smash of overloaded sound or as McConnell sings, “A sonic boom projected” to blast off the record on an invigorating note; Batiste, in particular, is a whirlwind on the kit for this killer number. Things fall more into the cut with “Checking Out” which is funky fresh and custom made for the stage while the more laid back “Where Did It Go?” increases some of the digital bells and whistles to the groups sound.
The meat and potatoes here are the instrumental jams and the two extended workouts are worth hearing. “Weepa” is a rolling groove fest reminiscent of Medeski Martin and Wood, fusing all sorts of styles including Latin vibes, eastern tinges, skittering trap percussion and reggae bumps before a full horn section wraps up. The more straight-ahead jam “Real Underground Soul Sound” does what the title intends and feels like it could go on for eternity as Batiste’s marching drums and personal call-outs lead the charge.
McConnell may be the frontman, but his vocals/lyrics are a bit of a drag on the ballad “Phaidon” and the group works best when they are one pulsating sound like on the elongated percussive horn pumping closer “If I Told You” where the Phish Chairman of the Boards uses all of his keyboards wonderfully around bizarre CB instructions. The track “Maybe” is a glimpse of what this outfit could be with more time together as things start mellow and standard before evolving into experimental noise and a jazz-influenced jam buoyed by a groove underneath; the idea is engaging for future efforts.
As members of Phish, The Allman Brothers and The Funky Meters, 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.
