Country Crossroads – The Nashville Sessions Big Mammy Records***

Don’t be fooled by the title into thinking that the Ladies have gone country. Though this seasoned troupe, led by the redoubtable Joanie Madden, enlist Nashville guests of the calibre of Vince Gill, Nanci Griffith and Maura O’Connell for vocal duties, they stick to their solid Irish-American take on traditional music. This is a mixture of nostalgia, sentiment, empathy and longing, layered on a base of accomplished and knowledgable playing. Irish- American music is intriguing because it is made by people at one remove from the homeland; it’s the same but different. The pacing of the 12 tracks is spot on, the playing laced with deft swirls and confident flourishes. The Ladies have been together in one form or another for more than 25 years, but there’s no sense here of going through the motions. See cherishtheladies. com

Download tracks: Donegal Rain, Waltzing Down the Aisle, The Boat to Bofin