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In the wake of their acclaimed collaboration Appalachia Waltz, classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma, bluegrass fiddler Mark O'Connor, and Nashville bassist Edgar Meyer have convened for another genre-bending hoedown. This time, they've brought along a pair of guest stars, too -- singer James Taylor and bluegrass belle Alison Krauss. Taylor gives a sweet yet husky rendition of "Hard Times," Stephen Foster's Civil War-era ballad, and whistles the tune on "Benjamin," his own tender instrumental composition. Krauss, a rising Country queen, makes a memorable cameo appearance singing O'Connor's gorgeous "Slumber Song." But like its predecessor, it's O'Connor and Meyer's original music -- and Ma's soulful bowing -- that's at the heart of this Appalachian Journey. O'Connor's style is steeped in the traditional reels and hornpipes of Appalachian folk music, while Meyer's compositions fearlessly fuse jazz, progressive country, and contemporary classical. On "Caprice," O'Connor puts the ensemble through its paces with a dizzying blend of Paganinian virtuosity and down-home folksiness. Meyer's "Duet for Cello and Bass" applies a countrified twang to an elegantly lyrical, Bach-like melody that's perfectly suited to Ma's singing tone. And as with most journeys, the end is a special highlight: "Vistas," the final track, is an O'Connor original whose pure counterpoint and gentle syncopations will haunt you long after the disc has stopped spinning. Andrew Farach-Colton, Barnes & Noble
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