Willie Nelson

This delightful concert collaboration is about the most fun you can have without breaking any laws. Natural, romantic and relaxed, but truly energized, there is a whiff of old-world danger about it. Nelson has always been a fan of classic swing and blues and he lets loose here, even playing some sly honky-tonk and Gypsy jazz guitar. For his part, Wynton frees himself from any obligation he has to be "important" and just has a great time. You can't suppress the joy heard here -- if we could feel this way without music, this set wouldn't need to exist. Thank Willie and Wynton that it does.

This odd coupling invites two icons to break character. Nelson revisits American classics
with serious jazzmen; check his beat-tugging guitar on "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It." And
Marsalis, not the mellowest genius, chills out, adding a one-note trumpet solo on "That's All"
that's funny and awesome. Even when things don't click, the improvisatory spirit shines.