Sara Shiloh Rae and Bluebird Junction 'The Sondheim Project'

I promise you'll love the latest Harmonious World episode with singer Sara Shiloh Rae and The Sondheim Project - Sara wasn't dismayed when I said that she and the band Bluebird Junction had "taken Broadway and moved it into the middle of nowhere."

This really was a great discussion. Sara is a classically-trained singer with opera and concert hall credentials, but there's something joyous and blues-infused about this approach to some classic Sondheim tracks. We had a blast discussing it.

Sara's vocal approach to these Sondheim classics treads the delicate line between jazz, Broadway and bluegrass. Along the way, the arrangements and the performances - Max Hoetzel (banjo), Mike Robinson (acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar), Myles Sloniker (bass), Alex Hargreaves (fiddle), Jacob Jolli (mandolin) and Molly Aronson (cello) - bring a new perspective to some songs we all know so well.

Particularly outstanding is the arrangement of Ladies Who Lunch, which fits perfectly the lyrics with the music. As usual, there's a wit and a biting tone which seemingly permeates the song while the melody lilts along. Simply stunning!