Steve Martin “The Crow”
Standouts - “Daddy Played the Banjo,” “Pretty Flowers,” “Calico Train”

Comedian Steve Martin, best known musically for his novelty tunes, has been playing the banjo in sketches since his salad days on “SNL,” but the aging Renaissance man has released, what might be, the best banjo album of the year - no joke. Over the 16 tracks on “The Crow” (15 written by Martin), the banjo-picker establishes his skills as a musical tour-de-force. The album also features appearances by some of the biggest names in country and bluegrass, including Earl Scruggs and Dolly Parton.