John McEuen Ensures the Circle Remains Intact

John McEuen is not only an amazingly dexterous musician, but he’s an affirmed archivist as well. That became apparent some 45 years ago when he helped assemble some of the greatest living legends that had ever propagated the realms of country, folk and traditional music and then introduced them to his own ensemble, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. That led to the iconic Will the Circle Be Unbroken album and a fusion of old and new Americana music that achieved success well before the term came into popular usage. While the majority of McEuen’s 50 year career has been chiefly devoted to the Dirt Band and its steady course forward, he has also ventured outside the band’s realms for an occasional solo excursion.

Consequently, his latest individual effort, Made In Brooklyn, may be the best example yet not only of McEuen’s reverence for his roots, but also of his determination to carry on the legacy NGDB  continues to sustain more than 50 years after their founding. A revisit to their classic “Mr. Bojangles” adds new eloquence and assurance (a conversation about the song’s origins ends the album), while covers of such classics as “She Darked the Sun,” “I Still Miss Someone,” “Acoustic Traveler” and Warren Zevon’s “My Dirty Life and Times” melds an authentic acoustic tapestry with contemporary treatments that further enhance the songs’ vintage origins.

To his credit, McEuen enlists a remarkable cast of musical collaborators to realize his vision — among them, David Bromberg, Matt Carsonis, Jay Ungar, David Amram, John Cowan, John Carter Cash and longtime pal Steve Martin. Their singular contributions add to the air of authenticity and help make Made In Brooklyn a remarkable collaborative showcase. Recorded at an old church in Brooklyn, the album reflects the spirit  and spontaneity that originally took flight with Will the Circle Be Unbroken, proof that despite age and origins, great music of a revered pedigree never goes out of style.