Surrender to the Air

Surrender to the Air

Surrender to the Air in 1996
Background information
Origin Burlington, Vermont, USA
Genres Free jazz
Years active 1996
Labels Elektra
Associated acts Phish, Sun Ra, Medeski Martin and Wood, Aquarium Rescue Unit
Past members Trey Anastasio
Marshall Allen
Damon R. Choice
Marc Ribot
John Medeski
Michael Ray
James Harvey
Jon Fishman
Oteil Burbridge
Kofi Burbridge
Bob Gulloti

Surrender to the Air was a free jazz ensemble led by Trey Anastasio of Phish that included Marshall Allen, Damon Choice, and Michael Ray of the Sun Ra Orchestra, John Medeski, Marc Ribot, Oteil Burbridge, Jon Fishman, and several other musicians.

The group performed two concerts at the New York Arts Academy in April 1996 and disbanded shortly thereafter. The concerts, like the group's sole album, consisted of completely improvised music.

Around the time of the group's formation, Anastasio mentioned in interviews that he based the ensemble around Sun Ra's free jazz ensembles of the mid-twentieth century. "A lot of times, I think he was the pinnacle," said Anastasio. "He was as good as it got. His values remained pure for his entire life, and there's something to be said for that."

Discography