Finger-Pickin’ Good: “I just got back from my annual trip to MerleFest, Doc Watson’s huge Americana festival in North Carolina, so I’m still reeling from memorable performances by Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice and Natalie McMaster and others. … Hearing dobro master Jerry Douglas’ set sent me back to his ‘Lookout For Hope’ release from 2002. He’s such an innovator, and James Taylor fans will love hearing him sing on the last track, ‘The Suit,’ a poignant tribute to a farmer at his funeral.”

Don’t be Surprised: “Tim O’Brien is also a fixture at MerleFest, and he’s been my musical hero for some time. His latest CD, ‘Traveler,’ is great, but if I had to pick my favorite of his, it would be his 1991 release, ‘Odd Man In.’ There are so many terrific singer-songwriters out there now. … Patty Griffin’s new ‘Impossible Dream,’ and Mindy Smith’s ‘One Moment More’ are getting a lot of play in the car on road trips with my wife and daughter. It’s very exciting to see how many young people are getting into this acoustic music scene and discovering folk and bluegrass and blues.” — As told to Ewa Beaujon

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