Willie and the Wheel
Willie Nelson - Asleep At The Wheel
Bismeaux Records

The first thing I noticed on first listen of the new album 'Willie and the Wheel' was the attitude, the bounce and the drive, as if there were a huge party that all the best musicians in the business were invited to at Bismeaux studios where Willie Nelson just happened to be recording. Packed with great songs from the Western Swing genre, the project was originally slated by legendary R&B producer Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records over 30 years ago when Willie was on the label. Unable to complete it then, it was many years later that it was resumed as a special project after the 'Last of the breed' tour with Willie, Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Asleep at the Wheel was recorded for a PBS television broadcast showcasing western swing and Texas country music. It was a natural fit for Willie who had been raised on the Texas swing sounds of Bob Wills, Milton Brown and others easily incorporating Nelson's jazzy, back-phrasing, beat skipping vocals that also match perfectly as well with the dead on amazing work of producer Ray Benson.

While many people have the mistaken image of Western Swing as 'Country music with more fiddles', rest assured this album is a testament to the extreme musicianship it takes to actually play it right. Golden from beginning to end, the list of musicians working on this album really does read like a who's who in the business. Beautiful combinations of   steel, horns, fiddles and more become works of art with the magic of Willie Nelson's interpretation of classic gems. Mix in  a couple of guest appearances from music giants Vince Gill and Paul Shaffer and this album is sealed as a must have for anyone who appreciates excellence in their music. To leave one person out would be a sin of epic proportion so the musicians involved in this album are as follows:

Dave Sanger: Drums
Dave Miller: Bass
Kevin Smith: Bass
Floyd Domino: Piano
John Michael Whitby: Piano
Jason Roberts: Fiddle, Electric Mandolin, Vocals
Eddie Rivers: Steel Guitar
Ray Benson: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals
Willie Nelson: Vocals
Elizabeth McQueen: Vocals
Sam Seifert: Acoustic Guitar
Dave Alexander: Trumpet
Mike Mordecai: Trombone
Jonathan Doyle: Clarinet
Paul Shaffer: Piano
Vince Gill: Electric Guitar

Jerry Wexler did not live to see the project completed. Ray Benson stated 'It was a sad day when the news came in that Jerry Wexler had passed away. We're so proud to have had this opportunity to make this record with him'. With songs like 'Hesitation Blues', Bring It On Down To My House', 'I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World', 'Won't You Ride In My Little Red Wagon' and others done with the passion and perfection that Willie, Ray Benson and all the musicians involved in this album brought with them, Wexler can rest in peace knowing that this is one of the finest albums ever recorded.

Let''s All Go To Bed
The Mother Truckers
Funzalo Records

The third nominee for Album Of The Year from AMC comes from the perennial string bending, hell raising, 24 hours a day party that is The Mother Truckers. The album is, from beginning to end, a non-stop musical carnival ride with Teal Collins and Josh Zee holding the lever that controls the speed and not once do they let up. The striking thing about this album first and foremost is the diversity of the songs. A collection of joyous, non-traditional bits of genius that defy a certain category, just good stuff.

Collins is, in my opinion one of the finest female singers on the planet, not just singing a song but pulling every bit of feeling and emotion that can be brought forth by the human voice out of it and delivering with a limitless range. When she decides to really belt one out, there is no ceiling on the highs and the lows are just shy of being tagged with a warning label. All with an undercurrent of animal symmetry that you just have to hear to understand.

Then you have the scorched earth guitar work of Josh Zee that is unbelievable. Never over playing but always in the pocket, Zee rips through a riff like there is no tomorrow and blends perfectly with the vocals of Teal Collins. Together they are a song's best friend and the 12 songs on this CD are a triumph of their partnership. 'Dynamite', 'Never Miss My Baby', 'Let's All Go To Bed', 'Can't Sleep In Tucson', all great songs but my favorite was 'Kaki's Song' featuring Collins. It was an excellent display of her vocal ability and a beautiful song that has a place all of it's own.

For more information on this cd and more on The Mother Truckers, check out these sites, www.themothertruckers.com , www.funzalorecords.com , www.myspace.com/themothertruckers

AMC's Second Nominee For Album Of The Year!

The Twilight  Zone
Jason Allen
Smith Entertainment

As I was listening to the long awaited album 'Twilight Zone' from Jason Allen, it was hard to keep from smiling. Ah, there it is, actual singing; dynamic, across the board pitch perfect, individual, and true to the emotions of a real Texas Country Music artist. He is one of the few singers working today that has the vocal ability to go where a well written song can take you. It's a very narrow field of people that have that distinction, and Allen has raised the bar to a new level on this album.

Recorded at Cherry Ridge Studios in Flooresville and produced by both Allen and Tommy Detamore,  the production on the album and the overall sound are phenomenal. Allen also has the backing of some of the finest musicians in the entire state and my personal favorites. On just about any record that has come out of Texas in the last ten years that has any kind of staying power, you will find these musicians on it. Detamore, Bobby Flores, Ronnie Huckaby, Al Quaid, Brian Dunn, this is the kind of talent that will keep people talking about their work for a lifetime. Twilight Zone is a very personal  album for Allen who wrote all but two of the songs included on it and there are even some unexpected twists and turns on the songs he didn't write. Have you ever considered Stevie Wonder's song 'I Just Called To Say I Love You' a country song? You will when you hear Allen's version.

I have several picks from the album, 'I Can't Hide This Heartache' was one of my favorites, powerful vocal, soaring harmonies, dead on steel guitar work, great stuff. 'Elvis Tonight' is a fun song, warping back to the fifties sound and forcing you to have a shaky right leg. 'Jenny Lee', a duet featuring Deryl Dodd is a driving song  with a just a hint of Bakersfield in the mix.'I Can't Let You Go', 'He's Still Dancin' With Her', 'Lost', all great songs that contribute to the whole album.

And last but not least, the album is capped off by a fantastic gospel song, 'When I See God' that is certainly a perfect finish for an album that I consider one of the best albums released this year. Check it out and you'll see why it was nominated as Album Of The Year from Austin Music City, a designation given only to five albums all year. For more info go to www.jasonallenband.net or www.myspace.com/jasonallenband .

Crooked Still
Still Crooked
Signature Sounds

It's an amazing thing that happens when a group of young, brilliant, virtuosic musicians get together and decide to change things up. Crooked Still is exactly that and they have taken a blow torch and slide rule to the genre of Bluegrass and created a magnificent collage of style and imagination. This is a collection of songs that defy guidelines and boundaries, blending an almost scientific approach to music formula with the most basic expressions of emotion and storytelling.

A spellbinding release, you can't stop listening to this album from beginning to end. Aoife O'Donovan, Greg Liszt, Corey DiMario, Brittany Haas and Tristan Clarridge make up the ensemble and creatively speaking, no stone has gone unturned on this release, even the way it was recorded, live in a large room, all together, after three days of intense rehearsal. The complicated arrangements, which include a banjo, cello, five string fiddle, baritone ukulele, glockenspiel, tenor guitar, and racket are designed to be powerful, sparring and perfectly matched with the vocals of O'Donovan, who, by the way, sings so well she borders on being an 'evil creation of gypsies', mesmerizing, otherworldly. Her breathy, lilting vocals weave through these ancient tales as if she were the lone survivor of a foregone age, the only one that's qualified to sing them. 'Captain, Captain' is an over 400 year old song but O'Donovan brings it to the 21st century and makes it her own in a fresh, new, intellectually sexy way.

Some call it a 'folk revival movement' but it is a musical hybrid that's hard to define. One thing is for certain, this album will be huge. It's already getting rave reviews and attention all over the world and by all accounts is considered one of the top cutting edge albums of the year.

For more info, check out their website, www.crookedstill.com or www.myspace.com/crookedstill You are going to love it.