Adieu False Heart (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Linda Ronstadt; Ann Savoy; Joel Savoy (acoustic guitar, fiddle); Sam Broussard, Chas Justus (acoustic guitar); Sam Bush (mandolin); Andrea Zonn (violin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Krista Wilkinson (viola); Kristin Wilkinson (strings); Dirk Powell (harmonica, accordion, bass guitar); Byron House (upright bass).

By the early 2000s Linda Ronstadt was galaxies away from the '70s soft rock on which she made her name. On a journey that led her deeper and deeper into American roots music she began working with traditional Cajun artist Ann Savoy (of the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band), and the results of the collaboration can be found on 2006's graceful and beautifully measured ADIEU, FALSE HEART.

The material is deep-roots folk with a strong Cajun flavor, and with top session players like mandolinist Sam Bush on board, the execution and playing is never less than flawless. Yet the arrangements and approach transcend any sort of genre exercise: Ronstadt and Savoy sing as though they are spirits resting between the past and the future, giving this mixture of originals, covers, and traditional songs a beautiful, timeless quality. minimize