FREE: Two Men with the Blues by Willie Nelson (CD, Jul-2008, Angel Records)

The listing, Two Men with the Blues by Willie Nelson (CD, Jul-2008, Angel Records) has ended.

TWO MEN WITH THE BLUES brings out both the jazziness that's long been a key element of Willie Nelson's sound (his standards album, STARDUST, remains one of his most acclaimed efforts) and the New Orleans-tinged, Louis Armstrong-esque bluesiness that's at the core of almost everything Wynton Marsalis has ever done (not counting that classical album!). Marsalis blows blistering, gutsy solos on Nelson's own classic tune "Night Life," and Willie sounds completely at home delivering a low-key version of the New Orleans jazz standard "Basin Street Blues." A version of the Ray Charles signature song "Georgia on My Mind" highlights the jazz-savvy chordal movement and country/blues base of the timeless composition. TWO MEN WITH THE BLUES is a successful sonic summit meeting, but the two camps represented were never truly that far apart to begin with.

Personnel: Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Wynton Marsalis (vocals, trumpet); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Walter Blanding (saxophone); Dan Nimmer (piano); Carlos Henríquez (upright bass); Ali Muhammed Jackson (drums).Audio Mixers: Delfeayo Marsalis; Jeff Jones .Audio Remixer: Jeff Jones .Recording information: 01/12/2007-01/13/2007.Editor: Jeff Jones .Photographer: Danny Clinch.