Vida Blue as announced plans to release a new album titled The Illustrated Band, a collaborative effort with The Spam Allstars due October 14 on Sanctuary Records. The trio features Phish keyboardist Page McConnell, Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge and Funky Meters drummer Russell Batiste. After sitting in with The Spam Allstars last March in Miami, McConnell invited the band to join Vida Blue in the studio, where the sextet recorded on each of the discs four tracks. The Spam Allstars instrumentation consists of turntables, saxophone, trombone, flute and percussion.
A tour with both groups is currently in the works, although specific details have not yet been released.
Vida Blue draws its moniker from the Cy Young and MVP award-winning major league pitcher whose career spanned from 1969 1986. He was a six-time all star. The bands official website is located at www.vidablue.net.