Fiddlers 4
Classical musicians have been pinching melodies from folk musicians  since before Mozart's day, so it seems only fair that the folkies should return  the favor by borrowing the idea of the string quartet from the classical world.  Fiddlers 4 is a supergroup formed by Cajun legendMichael Doucet, old-time  masterBruce Molsky,  progressive bluegrasserDarol Anger, and Rushad  Eggleston, a dazzling young cellist who was still attending the Berklee College  of Music when this recording was made. As you might expect given the musicians'  pedigree, the tunes include Cajun numbers like "You Little Wild Thing (La  Bétaille)" and songs from the bluegrass tradition like "Man of Constant  Sorrow." What's surprising is how the four musicians take these familiar  melodies and create a complex harmonic and rhythmic sound that simultaneously  honors the tradition while reveling in the new sonic possibilities. Doucet,  Molsky, and Anger each contribute original compositions that add jazz, African,  Caribbean, and blues elements to the mix. The Fiddlers 4 are perhaps unique in  the world: they are a string quartet that makes you want to get up and dance.--Michael Simmons