Folk, With an Unusual Bunch of Instruments

In the tradition of the American folk singer that he has upheld for the last 40 years, Arlo Guthrie usually performs on his own or with a few sidemen. But for his annual holiday concert at Carnegie Hall on Saturday evening Mr. Guthrie went symphonic, turning up with the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, led by John Nardolillo. Mr. Nardolillo and his ensemble also accompany Mr. Guthrie on his latest album, “In Times Like These” (Rising Son Records), recorded this year.

The album, which Mr. Guthrie and the orchestra performed almost in its entirety, mostly revisits favorites from Mr. Guthrie’s past work, including his version of Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans” and his own “Darkest Hour,” “Last Train” and “Last to Leave.” Curiously, the album’s title song, composed as a response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster (both natural and man-made), is performed by Mr. Guthrie to just his own guitar, on disc and in concert...

This from the New York Times, photo by Michael Falco for The New York Times.