“Evening Prayer Blues” was first recorded in 1927 by DeFord Bailey, the harmonica player who was an early star of the Grand Ole Opry; Bailey built the piece to capture the sound and feeling of a prayer meeting. Bill Monroe, who had toured with Bailey and admired him, recorded a mandolin version in 1981.
A slow, bluesy instrumental, the tune carries Bailey’s harmonica phrasing over to the mandolin, bringing out a melody that was implied rather than stated in the original. Monroe always credited Bailey’s hand in the piece.
The tune carries the bluesy side of the bluegrass instrumental tradition.
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