Andreas Baer hails from Switzerland, where he studied classical piano before he became interested in jazz. Baer cites Oscar Peterson and Monty Alexander as primary influences, but you’ll hear many more players and styles infused into Baer’s musical persona. Baer deftly switches from barrel-house boogie to blues to gospel to bop. He also wrote five of the thirteen songs listed here. The subtitle for She’s On The Right Train is "Boogie Woogie & Blues," and that’s exactly what you’ll hear.
Baer is accompanied by Ueli Muller on drums with no bassist. Muller provides capable, but not overly flashy support. The absence of a bass player is not detrimental to the music, as it provides more focus on Baer’s left-hand accompaniment. Highlights of the program include Baer’s solo interpretation of "Georgia On My Mind," where he demonstrates his ability to be wistful, virtuosic, and rhythmic simultaneously. The title track, written by Baer is a showcase for his stride/boogie playing.
Listening to She’s On The Right Train straight through may provoke a feeling of sameness to some listeners. However, the songs are mostly brief, at around three and a half minutes each, which keeps things moving along nicely. Fans of the genre will certainly want to investigate She’s On The Right Train.
