Texas Sheiks

This stellar assemblage of roots revivalists find something immediate and vital in these tunes, rekindling the zest and humor of the ‘60s Greenwich Village folk revival days. Muldaur’s supple, Creole-seasoned voice is in fine form, finding the sweet spots of lust, joy and mystery within songs like “The World Is Going Wrong,” “Cairo” and “Poor Boy.” He shares the singing duties with various players, allowing old pal Jim Kweskin to romp through a smile-inducing “Fan It” and Johnny Nichols to deliver a chilling rendition of Skip James’ “Hard Time Killin’ Floor.” For sheer weirdness, “Under the Chicken Tree” is worthy of special attention. As an ensemble, the Sheiks swing loose yet hang together, with fiddler Suzy Thompson and steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar unleashing some particularly piquant licks. Most of all, Texas Sheiks is a celebration of the memory of guitarist Stephen Bruton, who passed away after the album was completed. His virtuosity — combined with the impeccable chops and plucky spirit of his bandmates — are evident throughout this release.