Phish keyboardist Page McConnell's side project Vida Blue will release The Illustrated Band, their second studio album, October 14th. The band, featuring McConnell along with Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbidge and Funky Meters drummer Russell Batiste, is following up its self-titled 2002 debut.

The improvisation- and groove-driven set features the Latin Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban sextet the Spam Allstars on each of its four tracks. McConnell invited the band to the studio after sitting in with them in during a nightclub show in Miami, where the album was recorded last April.

Vida Blue and the Spam Allstars will tour together to support the album later this year.

AUGUSTIN SEDGEWICK
(September 4, 2003)