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The Blue Rider Trio was a Maryland acoustic blues supergroup starring vocalist Ben Andrews on guitar, Mark Wenner on harmonica and Jeff Sarli on upright bass.
Blues Revue called this out-of-print 1990 debut
"one of the best acoustic blues albums of the year".
Absolute Sound was unambiguous: “This is as close to live as I’ve heard a recorded trio get...I dare you not to fall in love with this uniquely American music and this firecracker performance. The original analog master tapes for this album survived the 2007 Mapleshade Studio fire; they've been restored and remastered by Paul Gold at Salt Mastering to create the new 24/96 digital master for this fabulous-sounding reissue. The new transfer is even more nuanced, bringing out lovely newfound vocal and instrument details.
Performers
Ben Andrews, guitar & vocals
Mark Wenner, harmonica
Jeff Sarli, bass
Track Listing1. Preachin' The Blues
2. Stomp Down Rider
3. Gallows Pole
4. Blue Goose Blues
5. Early Morning Blues
6. Cincinnati Rag
7. Payday
8. Walkin' Blues
9. Georgia Rag
10. Freight Train Boogie
11. Statesboro Blues
12. She Don't Do Me Wrong
Production Credits
Recorded at the Mapleshade Beechwood Studio in Upper Marlboro, Maryland in 1988/89
Produced and recorded by Pierre Sprey
Mastered by Paul Gold, Salt Mastering
A/D transfer using a Telefunken M15 deck and Prism AD2 converter
Cover design by Eldon W. Baldwin
The Blue Rider Trio consists of three of Maryland’s finest blues musicians: guitarist/vocalist Ben Andrews, harpist Mark Wenner from The Nighthawks, and bassist Jeff Sarli of Big Joe & the Dynaflows. The focus of this tight set of country blues standards is on Ben Andrews’ plaintive voice and heartfelt picking. There is little new ground broken but the support of Wenner and Sarli provides this album with a special sound. Mark Wenner can play with delicacy or fury depending on the tune and never fails to amaze with his versatility. Jeff Sarli’s gently throbbing string bass provides a surging bottom that propels the fast tunes with a refreshing rockabilly feel. On the slow tunes his subdued playing deftly anchors the interplay between guitar and harmonica. Ben Andrews’ playing is most influenced by Robert Johnson and Blind Willie McTell as the titles indicate, but there are surprises like Mississippi John Hurt’s ethereal Pay Day. Ben Andrews contributed the originals Freight Train Boogie and She Don’t Do Me Wrong. Fans of Cephas & Wiggins, Ball & Sultan, or Steve James will enjoy this relaxed set of country nuggets. - Thomas J. Cullen III
More deliciously trad is Preachin’ the Blues (Mapleshade), cut by guitarist/singer Ben Andrews, Nighthawks harpist Mark Wenner and bassist Jeff Sarli under the name Blue Rider Trio. These three mine styles and songs of great country-blues stylists, kicking up clouds of rich delta dust along the way. But the music never sounds dusty; there’s too much love and conviction Ð especially in their affecting spin through Blind Blake’s Early Morning Blues. A pair of Andrews originals also fits comfortably with its distinguished company. - Ted Drozdowski
Recording of Exceptional Merit. Raw, acoustic blues that will have you smellin’ Mississippi cotton and cursin’ the bol weevil. This trio led by the extremely talented Ben Andrews (guitar and vocals), has the rare ability of sounding fresh, fast and improvisational, while never missing a lick or taking a wrong turn. A studio with turning tape machines and an operating room-like sterility, can rob a musician of his vitality, making his music sound over rehearsed and lacking in life. This band, recording at the relaxed confines of the Pierre M. Sprey manor, never falls into an artistic rut, always maintaining a high intensity level.
Comprised of an acoustic blues guitar, harmonica and slap bass, the Blue Rider Trio is one part Mississippi back 40, one part hillbilly rock and one part folk balladeer. There is nothing electric here, and Ben Andrews can play a box guitar into splinters Ð a John Lee Hooker with overhead cams and a turbo charger! If you are looking for something completely different that will energize your stereo system, this is the place to look. - Martin G. DeWulf
This album sounds too good. The full spectrum of pain and catharsis found in the blues should be accompanied by the hiss of a dirty record, the roar of the subway, crickets on the back porch or anything. What this reissue has is a pristine sound that melds Ben Andrews' gravelly vocals and cutting guitar together with Jeff Sarli's driving slap bass and Mark Wenner's face-puckering harmonica into a blues symphony. The combination of '92's Preachin' the Blues and '00's Harp, Steel and Guts was released as a memorial to the late Sarli. The sound is reverential to classic blues styles, with top-class musicianship and some modern kicks. But no crickets to be found. -DC Gott
