Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers at the Ryman (1992)

At 44, country singer Emmylou Harris may be gray-haired as a granny, but musically she's as adventurous as ever. Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers at the Ryman, a 50-minute video which ran on The Nashville Network in January, is a companion piece to Harris' current album, a strong and emotionally uplifting set of bluegrass, country, pop, and old-time songs, recorded live last May at the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. Director Bayron Binkley, who leaves the campy barn backdrop intact, intercuts short, informative interview snippets between songs, otherwise eschewing gimmicky techniques for the integrity of the music. Harris' shimmering soprano falters occasionally on both the opening song, ''Guitar Town,'' and a shuffle rendition of Hank Williams' ''Half as Much,'' but the singer rallies to deliver a powerhouse performance. In an age when more and more country acts opt for rock & roll flash and inferior road musicians, Harris dared to assemble a premier acoustic band, the Nash Ramblers, whose musicianship matches her own. The ghosts of the old Ryman undoubtedly sang along. A