*** Ramblin' Jack Elliott

FRIENDS OF MINE

(HighTone)

An archetypal wandering minstrel, Brooklyn cowboy Ramblin' Jack Elliott may be as important for what he represents as for his music. At 67, he's one of folk's closest links to Woody Guthrie, whom he faithfully trailed in his youth. But on Friends of Mine he modestly stands centerstage as a younger generation of folkies (most born in the '40s) joins him on weathered ballads like Woody's "Hard Travelin'," Tom Waits's "Louise" (penned for this album), and Elliott's own "Bleecker Street Blues." The raconteur spirit Elliott, Guy Clark, John Prine, and Arlo Guthrie bring to the aptly titled disc makes up for their lack of vocal chops, though it's a pleasure to hear gossamer-voiced Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith spin pure gold with Townes Van Zandt's aching "Rex's Blues." An utter lack of flash and pretense links these performances of everything from old Gene Autry and Merle Travis nuggets to newer ballads, all of which are steeped in the dust and grit of Americana -- just like Elliott himself.

-- Bruce Sylvester