The life and lore of the cowboy has been Michael Martin Murphey’s specialty for a good 40 years. Blue Grass Buckaroo represents something of a stretch for him, leading him away from the open range of the West towards the more tradition-bound hills of Appalachia. True, Murphey has written bluegrass-tinged tunes for decades — most of this album, in fact, is devoted to newly-recorded versions of favorites like “Carolina in the Pines,” “Lost River,” “Fiddlin’ Man,” and “What Am I Doing Hanging Round.” The difference here is more atmospheric than anything else. The sense of personal freedom and pantheistic spirituality found in songs like “Healing Spring” and “Boy from the County” clash a bit with the more narrow confines of bluegrass sensibility. Still, the music here is lively and superbly played, with Charlie Cushman’s banjo and Pat Flynn’s acoustic guitar adding particular sparkle while Murphey delivers his compositions with an affable, gentlemanly charm. A pair of new tunes — “Lone Cowboy” and “Close to the Land” — serve to remind fans that this bluegrass buckaroo remains a true son of the West at heart.