PA Musician Magazine - June 2003 What mountain painting doesn't have its contrast? Something like puffy white clouds sailing past, separate from the main yet indivisible. That would be the Sherri Mullen Trio with Sherri on acoustic guitar and vocals, Doug Stockton on bass and Ray Rossi on harmony/percussion. The Trio features Mullen original 'short story' songs with a ballad-rocker flavor. Not mere white puffy pieces, Sherri Mullen's tunes - lyrically, emotionally and vocally - have the appeal of a bright shiny ripe apple. But it's an apple with a razor blade hidden inside. Just when you thought a Sherri Mullen song was soft, or the theme comforting, or the singing to be lulling- a slash brings you upright to the edge of the chair. These are great tales with that unexpected bite. A standout feature of the Trio is the background vocals by Ray Rossi. Superbly underdone, Rossi's restraint pays off in an overall sound that absolutely solidifies Sherri Mullen's sound without ever competing with or straying from her lead. They are a dimensionally perfect vocal pair.