Band blends Russian roots with bluegrass

Let's say six Russian kids, all in their twenties, flew into Nashville with dreams of making country music and performing at the Grand Ole Opry. What would you say? Unlikely? Absurd? For the six members of Bering Strait, these dreams have already come true. The group was nominated this year for a Grammy for "Best Country Instrumental Performance." Though they lost to the Dixie Chicks, the idea of garnering such accolades so soon in their careers is astonishing. The group, consisting of four men and two women, including lead vocalist Natasha Borzilova, blends traditional country sounds and bluegrass -- reenergizing the genre just when all the young country talent seems to be filtering into pop ala Leann Rimes and Faith Hill. Borizlova's crisp and clean vocal delivery hide any trace of an accent, even adding a Southern twang to certain tracks. The band does return to their Russian roots in a ho-down rendition of a classic Russian folk song. While their album is no doubt an accomplishment, the album lacks originality and to a degree, personality. The tracks are predominantly written by esteemed Nashville talent which hide the artists' rich cultural heritage from the listener.