Reincarnation The Songs of Roger Miller (Howdy Skies, 2012)

This album also represents the debut of sibling artists, Tim & Mollie O'Brien's family band, Party of 7. With the help of both artists sons and daughters, they bring some of the lesser known tunes of Miller's catalog to life with sweet-harmonies, bright acoustic-new grass instrumentation and straight ahead interpretations. Especially fine is the duet on, You Are My Kingdomby sisters, Bridget and Lucy (Mollie's daughters). The arrangement and vocal by Tim's son, Jackson, on Miller's tongue in-cheek, Guv'ment, from "Big River," brings a loose fusion of ragtime and bluegrass that the song begged for from its inception. The only Miller hit covered on this collection, King of the Road is completely reinvented as a mando-driven, Bill Monroe-influenced session.

As a tribute to great artists of the last 50 years, Tim O'Brien continues on his roll with "Reincarnation: A Tribute to Roger Miller." As a debut family musical collaboration, it's fresh and free-styled with obvious fun found in the groove of the album. As a reminder of the legacy of Roger Miller, one of America's finest songwriters, this album may just send the listener back for a much needed listen and appreciation.