Julie Lee & the Baby-Daddies

The title of singer/songwriter Julie Lee’s seventh album refers to her numerous babysitting clients, who include such notable Nashville players as Lucinda Williams’ guitarist Kenny Vaughan and Del McCoury Band bassist Mike Bub. As The Baby-Daddies, they help Lee deliver an outstanding set of tunes that merge folk, jazz, blues, and old-time country influences into an evocative whole. Fans of Alison Krauss and Union Station will find a lot to like here—in fact, Krauss and fellow bluegrass icon Tim O’Brien appear on the ethereal backwoods hymn “Unto the Hills.” Lee projects a strong presence, veering from the billowing jazzy rhythms of “Moonlight Train” to the ominous blues of “Lowborn Men” to the ghostly Appalachian gospel of “Plague of Blood” with remarkable ease. Her heart-tugging soprano vocals especially shine on the delicate “Uphill” and a softly swinging cover of Carly Simon’s “Older Sister.” Also memorable is “How He Lied,” a murder ballad in the classic folk tradition. Overall, the spirit here is friendly and freewheeling, reflecting both the players' virtuosity and the genuine camaraderie they share.