Jazz is PHSH came to Gypsy Sally's in Washington DC on November 30, 2017. Since its inception in 2015, Jazz is PHSH has been performing to sold- out venues, filled with passionate fans of both Phish and jazz. This evening’s performance achieved two things simultaneously – playing the very best quintessential jazz, filled with free-flowing expression and improvisation, and pure Phish "Hose". 

Jazz is PHSH contains a rotating cast of exceptionally talented musicians. Some are a more permanent fixture, while others only play for a show or two. This performance's lineup included the Chase brothers, Matthew (guitar), and Adam (drum), Josh Thomas(keys), Mark Ingraham (trumpet), and featured Chris Bullock (saxophone - Snarky Puppy), and Felix Pastorious (bass,and son of legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius - Jeff Coffins & the Mu’tet).

Each night, the Jazz is PHSH musicians carry out their book of songs, with their sheets of music telling them what to play. However, the song books were rarely referred to, as the performance contained so much interpretive, group exploratory, and free-flowing jazz moments, that the notes on the pages were used as mere checkpoints , rather than a step-by-step instruction manual . The concert showcased true musical and jazz mastery by all the artists assembled and included the brilliant blending of all instruments, eloquently fused and intertwined. A notable moment in the concert occurred during the song, “Lawn Boy”. The song began with all five performers. and at some point four of the six musicians left the stage, leaving concert goers to witness Matthew Chase and Felix Pastorious sharing a brief moment shining alone together on stage, having an intimate temporary jam session on stage. When the duet was finished, the rest of band joined them back on stage to finish the song.

Phish “Hose,” a term which many Phish fans use to describe an exceptional and standout fluid improvisation moment during a Phish performance. The exact term is attributed to Carlos Santana who described his reaction to Phish's performance with a crowd - “When you guys were playing, I was picturing the audience as the sea of flowers, the music was water, and you guys were the hose”. Trey Anastasio further described it as “The concept of music going through you, that you're not actually creating it, that what you're doing is - the best thing that you can do is get out of the way. So, when you are in a room full of people, there's this kind of group vibe that seems to get rolling sometimes."  [via - phish.net 'Hose' FAQ]

This evening's performance achieved both, quintessential exploratory jazz and Phish's Hose experience. Late in the evening,before the musicians regained the stage for their encore, several audience members could not hold back and chanted, “It's Still Early! It's Still Early!” True to Phish, Jazz is PHSH returned to the stage and played “Tweezer Reprise” to bookend the previous appearance of “Tweezer”.

Jazz is PHSH, jazz and Phish, this evening was just musical bliss.

Enjoy the audio recording of this show taper and audio technician extraordinaire Will Urquhart. 

Photographs from photographers Josh Brick and Jason Herman.