Willie takes on bluegrass

Willie Nelson has been recording country albums on a shockingly regular basis since 1962, but there’s one sub genre he’s never touched: bluegrass.

With “Country Music,” his latest full-length, that all changes.

Nelson calls “Country Music” his first bluegrass record, and while it lacks some of the requisite speedy tempos inherent in that genre, there’s more than enough banjo, fiddle and forlorn caterwauling for it to qualify.

All hair-splitting classification aside, the most important thing this album does is display that even at 76 years of age, Willie’s still got it.

His continuing output of quality music in the face of his trouble with the IRS and the rigors of aging is a testament to his strong will. His vocals on new songs such as “Dark As a Dungeon” and “Satisfied Mind” are as powerful as they ever have been, and he has a full line-up of concerts scheduled.

At the risk of sounding ageist, there can’t be many other 76-year-olds who can say that.