Jim Lauderdale is the kind of person everyone should have in their closest circle of friends. Kind, mannered, measured, polite, a pleasant gentleman of North Carolina.

The Nashville based singer/songwriter and Grammy winner greets us at breakfast and sits at his table, he is not intrusive but we believe in conviviality so we invite him to join us and he gladly accepts. He was the headliner of the Country Western Festival Frutigen, in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, which took place during the last weekend, in days of intense heat that did not spare even Switzerland. On Friday he joined Frets Unlimited, an excellent local bluegrass band, to share a few songs and then returned to the stage for his show on Saturday night, with Paul Mac Bonvin’s band who supported him masterfully.

Jim Lauderdale fascinates and drags, he excites and offers moments of musical truth. Known on the European scene for several appearances at festivals in Spain, Scandinavia, Switzerland, he ranges from country to bluegrass to American with a mastery and talent easily understood when listening. Jim Lauderdale, a career that spans several decades has written songs for Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt, Elvis Costello, The Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, among others and to hear live “The King Of Broken Hearts” and “Where The Sidewalk Ends” from the soundtrack of the movie “Pure Country” with George Strait is a real privilege. He has earned several nominations and won two Grammy Awards for the bluegrass albums “The Bluegrass Diaries” and “Lost In The Lonesome Pines.”  Jim Lauderdale is a rare pearl that through his lyrics, harmonies and perfect arrangements pierces your soul, enchants and transports you to a musical dimension where everything makes sense and nothing is taken for granted.  His latest album “Hope” has just been released: I won’t spoil anything, except that you cannot miss it, the album’s review is soon to be published on PlanetCountry.it. (Layla Forgiarini)