The jazzy adventure with Wynton Marsalis on Two Men With The Blues (2008) apparently pleased Willie Nelson so much that he quickly made another jazz record for Blue Note. This time too he collaborated with some solid jazz names, such as pianist Joe Sample, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash. As on the groundbreaking 1978 album Stardust, he once again sings a number of blues and
… country-infused pieces from the Great American Songbook, such as The Nearness Of You, Angel Eyes and Fly Me To The Moon. Special guests at American Classic are Diana Krall in If I Had You and Norah Jones in Baby, It's Cold Outside. However, it is Nelson himself who draws all the attention by giving the songs with his typical timing and somewhat cracking voice an authenticity that you do not often hear with younger singers who are venturing into the well-trodden path of jazz standards. Admirable if you still manage to do that at the age of 76. (HB)more
