Steve Martin and Alison Brown created their star-studded new bluegrass album, Safe, Sensible and Sane – released Friday (Oct. 17) via Compass Records – through an organic, collaborative process that began with writing songs remotely and grew into a full project featuring acclaimed artists like Vince Gill, Indigo Girls, Jackson Browne, Sarah Jarosz, Della Mae, and Jason Mraz. The duo builds on the prior success of their No. 1 hit collaboration, “Foggy Morning Breaking,” which paid tribute to Earl Scruggs’ classic and was featured on Brown’s 2023 album, On Banjo. The Grammy-winning banjoists blended their distinct musical legacies and diverse influences – which spans from traditional bluegrass to bossa nova – while inviting guest vocalists to bring lyrics to life, as neither Martin nor Brown consider themselves singers. Their unexpected creative partnership was spawned by a chance Caribbean meeting years ago, and has earned both musicians critical acclaim, with songs from the album receiving multiple International Bluegrass Music Association nominations. (Billboard)