BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE
The American Blues Authority
ISSUE NO. 66, APRIL 2001
www.bluesrevue.com

It's Easy to forget that all 14 songs on Ride The Blind are traditional public domain tunes. "Casey Jones," "Delia" and "Sittin' On Top of the World" have been performed and/or recorded countless times by a multitude of artists, and that Trip Hunt manages to make them sound fresh underscores this folky acoustic guitarist's strengths as an interpreter.

Hunt was born in Atlanta, raised in New Orleans, and has lived in Austin for the past decade. His early career included a stint as lead guitarist with Chuck Jackson's road band, a period during which the act appeared with such notables as B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, and Chuck Berry. After leaving Jackson's band in the 70's, Hunt moved to New York and performed acoustic folk and blues in Greenwich Village. And that's the music he continues to explore: The songs on Ride The Blind come from such early folk-blues icons as Blind Lemon Jefferson ("Black Horse Blues"), Doc Watson ("Deep River Blues"), and Mississippi John Hurt ("Frankie & Albert," "Got The Blues" and "Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me"). The album's most chilling tune comes from the songbook of Blind Willie Johnson, whose "God Moves On the Water," about the Titanic shipwreck, packs more drama and pathos than the blockbuster film.

Hunt performs on acoustic six- and 12- string guitar, mandolin, and bass. His warm gentle voice echoes the spirit of his influences, particularly that of Hurt. Hunt's vocal and guitar work dominates the album, but he's accompanied by guests such as fiddle players Eric Hokkanen and Spencer Perskin, Floyd Domino on piano, and singers MaryAnn Price and Chris O'Connell (who trade vocals with Hunt on a fine version of "Frankie & Albert"). Glen Alyn, who contributed harmonica on seven tracks, died in a car accident not long after working on the album; Hunt dedicates Ride The Blind to Alyn, who also helped Texas legend Mance Lipscomb write his oral biography, I Say Me for a Parable.

MICHAEL COTE

CD REVIEW *
BLUE COUNTRY
ROOTS ALBUM OF THE MONTH
TRIP HUNT
RIDE THE BLIND

Trip Hunt was born in Atlanta, Georgia and was brought up in New Orleans. He started picking on the guitar at the age of thirteen and formed his first band at fifteen. Later on, he wound up on the road playing lead guitar for Chuck Jackson performing all over the USA and on the same bills as B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, The Drifters and Stevie Wonder. In 1986 Trip graduated from The University of Texas in El Paso with a Master of Music Degree in classical guitar.

On Trip’s latest, Ride The Blind, the listener is taken on a fourteen track journey back in time with the music of the blues masters. Songs like Blind Lemon Jefferson’s "Easy Rider Blues," Mississippi John Hurt’s "Frankie & Albert," and Blind Willie McTell’s "Broke Down Engine Blues." Trip sings all the vocals and plays guitar, mandolin and bass on these old classics breathing new life into them and all along managing to retain the spirit of the original song. Included on Ride The Blind are a number of guest artists, Maryann Price & Chris O’Connell-backing vocals, Eric Hokannen & Spencer Perskin-fiddles, Ritchie Mintz-banjo, Booka Michel-percussion, Floyd Domino-piano, and the late Glen Alyn who plays harmonica on seven tracks.

Trip Hunt’s fingerpicking guitar playing is simply superb. Along with good vocals and and great choice of material, is what makes listening to Ride The Blind a real pleasure.

Eric Black

Trip Hunt's " Ride The Blind " CD is like a big chunk of coal from the swamps of the old smoky Blues. The love child of the late & legendary, Glen Alyn....who's blues holy ghost played a live recorded harp.

If that's not Blues enough? If that's not Texas enough? Toss in the twins of lone star music lore, Maryann Price & Chris O'Connell as they join Trip for one classic selection "Frankie & Albert".

Add such Austin studio spice as Floyd Domino, Erik Hokkanen, Booka Michel, Ritchie Mintz, "my man" Spencer Perskin, plus where it was recorded at Parrot Tracks, and well, you've got a combination here pretty darn hard to beat.

All revolving around the messenger, Trip Hunt. Trip sings & plays 6 and 12-string guitar, mandolin & bass like the breeze on HWY 61 to HWY 71, with all the full tribute heart from Mississippi John Hurt...to Stephen Foster.

And man is this album popular on global radio. Easily one of the most aired albums in my RSN global pipelining talent pool.

Recording an album is one thing. Being well received on global radio is another.

All we need is the critic's saying " just another white person trying to sing black blues " . Personally, I'm sick of hearing that--as we've been singing each other for ages. And what better example of human unity could there possibly be.

Eddie Russell
Country Eastern / Outlaw For Peace

"We've had this in our hands less than 24 hours and have already named it THE BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR. A flawless tribute to the early Blues Masters performed in the traditional style. Not blues rock. Not jazzy treatments. This is pure, true blues and it'll make you happy. A full hour of material from Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Willie McTell, and Blind Boy Fuller plus Stephen Foster's civil war song "Hard Times". You have these songs on other recordings...but you've never had these songs lift your spirits like they will on this CD. Trip Hunt's vocals are a soothing balm. Floyd Domino, Erik Hokkanen, Spencer Perskin, Maryann Price, Chris O'Connell, Booka Michel, Ritchie Mintz and the late Glen Alyn (our dear friend) all back Trip to perfection. This CD will cure what ails you...and that's a promise."

SUE & MIKE DONAHOE
LOCAL FLAVOR http://austinmetro.com/Localflavor/newsletter.html

"TRIP HUNT just sent us "Ride The Blind" and blues fans all over the world will recognize the title cut. A tribute to the great blues masters, including Blind Lemon Jefferson, Missippi John Hurt and others and performed in the pure, traditional style. No big guitars and walls of horns (although those can be fun, too). Here you will find the blues as they were heard from the men who hopped the trains and lightened the spirits of fans for decades. No matter how many versions of these songs you have in your collection...this is one to grab. A special treat in this mix is Stephen Foster's Civil War song, "Hard Times", the final of fourteen fine cuts. Backing Trip are a team of outstanding artists all listed in our catalog description of this disc. One of those was our very dear friend Glen Alyn who died in a car wreck on a stormy day in June of this year. Glen was a big part of our shop and our lives for six years. The author who gave the world "I SAY ME FOR A PARABLE", the oral autobiography of Mance Lipscomb which won ASCAP Music Book Of The Year award and other great honors. Glen had been very excited about this project and his harmonica is heard on seven of the cuts. Trip and the other artists involved in the CD chose to dedicate the project to Glen. A release party is scheduled for October 20th at the historic home of Booka Michel, who also played on the recording. A donation from sales made at the party will be made to THE GLEN ALYN / MANCE LIPSCOMB COLLECTION at the Texas History Center. A fitting tribute to many who have gone before and a great celebration of living blues."

SUE & MIKE DONAHOE
LOCAL FLAVOR http://austinmetro.com/">Austin Metro Entertainment Front Page