RIC SANDERS’ TRIO – Standin’ On The Corner (Dotted Line Ltd. DLCD001)

RIC SANDERS’ TRIO – Standin’ On The CornerIn a lot of ways, it’s difficult to review an album by an artist to whom you feel emotionally attached. You struggle to maintain your credibility as a critic but it’s difficult not to make excuses for some musical stumbles.

Rejoice! Standin’ On The Corner, the new album by Ric Sanders’ Trio, is just as brilliant as one would hope. It’s so good, in fact, that it should make critics’ ‘Best Of’ albums for 2015. And it should certainly make any blues-jazz- and yes, folk lovers’ gift lists this holiday season.

Sanders, the virtuosic violinist from Fairport Convention, and band mates Vo Fletcher and Michael Gregory have joined together to reintroduce some of their favourite songs to modern music lovers.

The title track (not to be confused with the 1950’s pop hit ‘Standing on the Corner’) kicks off the album with an exuberant boom, finding Sanders in fine and fluid form as Fletcher joins in with sterling guitar work and vocals – including some fine yodeling! – all grounded by Gregory’s steady percussion. The joy and agility found in their musicianship clearly comes from their years of playing together in various bands.

“Vo and I met in Birmingham when I was about 18,” said Sanders. “He didn’t sing much in those days but we kept bumping into each other and playing.  About 15 years ago, Vo and Michael and I started to get together somewhat regularly and play, just for fun.”

And that fun has turned into a triumphant reimagining of many blues’ songs some of which, including the title track, have been sited as contributing to the birth of rock.

“It is very much the blues end of country, the way we do it,” said Sanders noting the trio perfected their rendition of the Jimmie Rodgers-penned song during some of those informal  just-for-fun sessions. “We started playing it at gigs and as soon as we started the audience started dancing and singing.”

It’s easy to understand why that – and the other tunes on the album – would bring people to their feet. The blues numbers on the album – mainly researched by Fletchers and Gregory – are a true blast of Memphis’ – and the Trio’s – best.

Even if you’re not a fan of the original ‘Mule Skinner Blues’ – written by Rodgers and George Vaughan – you’ll be hard-pressed not to love the rendition on this album that finds the trio in sterling musical form behind Fletcher’s lion-hearted voice.

But don’t think this is all high-spirited hi-jinx. The trio shows their softer side on such numbers as Mississippi John Hurt’s classic ‘Lewis Collins.’ And the bonus track of Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” is just plain fun.

“Another essential thing we did was [record the album playing] all together,” said Sanders. “It’s really the only way you can record this stuff. Basically it is all live takes, warts and all.”

And listeners will hear that’s the perfect way to hear them.

Nancy Dunham

Artists’ website: http://www.folkcorp.co.uk/ric/ric.htm

‘Standin’ On The Corner (Blues Yodel No. 9)’ – live at The Lighthouse, Deal:


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