Larry Davis' "Texas Flood") and Charles Brown (a shiveringly good version of the late singer's "Black Night"). Given the record's Lone Star-heavy flavor, it's odd that there's nothing here by T-Bone Walker, but the late guitar slinger's sensibility is nonetheless evident in the mellow timbre of the single-note solos and jazz-blues chords played by Nelson and his guests. On board as duet partners and sidemen are legends (B.B. King, Dr. John) and youngbloods (Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd) alike. But the show belongs to Nelson, who has fashioned from these blues a sagebrush poet's autumnal meditation on faded love and the wages of the sporting life. The result is emotionally rich, musically savory and languidly blue from end to end. (RS 850)

PARKE PUTERBAUGH