With each album he releases, Levon Helm deepens the cement in which his “National Treasure” status is held. The venerable drummer and songwriter, one of the founding members of The Band, who celebrated turning 68 last month, has survived throat cancer and since has had two award-winning albums and was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Americana Music Association.

He's made countless guest appearances on other artists' albums and hosts a regular jam session, called a “ramble,” at The Barn, his Woodstock, NY, recording studio, which always has unexpected guest artists stopping by.

Rewind to Sept.17, 2008, when Helm gathered an amazing group of musicians together for a show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The musicians included multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Larry Campbell, Levon's daughter Amy Helm of Ollabelle, and many others including a full horn section. Guest artists included Buddy Miller, Sam Bush, Sheryl Crow, Billy Bob Thornton, George Recelli and John Hiatt.

This fabulous night of music has now been released as “Ramble at the Ryman” on Vanguard Records, and this is one not to be missed. Fifteen songs include favorites like “Ophelia,” “Deep Elem Blues,” “Rag Mama Rag,” “The Shape I'm In,” “Chest Fever,” and the uber-classic “The Weight,” which gets a royal treatment as the encore featuring Hiatt.

There are some real deep-catalog treasures here too, such as “Evangeline,” “Wide River to Cross,” “A Train Robbery” and “Baby Scratch My Back.” The performances are stellar, the arrangements are big and fat, the recording couldn't be better.

For those of us who were not fortunate enough to be present, this was one joyous night of music we're lucky that they recorded.