Trey Anastasio

If Bar 17 flaunted Anastasio's ability for operating wholly outside the parameters of his former band, this follow-up goes a step further outside the box, with a set of sophisticated, horn-driven instrumentals that are informed by golden-era Herbie Hancock and Afro-fusion jazz. Even though most of the tunes highlight funky ensemble playing and tightly woven arrangements -- and most of the shredding is done by the horn players -- the pay off for old school fans will come when Anastasio delivers on guitar on "Olivia."

In the three years since Phish disbanded, frontman Trey Anastasio has emerged as the most
prolific member, from (on the upside) releasing four solo records to founding an
arts-education charity to (on the downside) getting busted for heroin and pills last year.
Unlike 2005's song-based Shine, The Horseshoe Curve is a groove record, with jazz-organ
funk, Afrobeat and Seventies fusion in the mix. Most of the time, Anastasio chills... More >