Personnel: Willie Nelson (synthesizer); Kenny Greenberg (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John Williams (acoustic guitar, gut-string guitar); Tim Stafford (acoustic guitar); Larry Paxton (cello, sousaphone, upright bass, fretless bass); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Jim Horn (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Sam Levine (tenor saxophone); Quentin Ware, Steve Herman (trumpet); Chris Dunn (trombone); John Hobbs, Randy McCormick (piano, keyboards); Gary Prim (piano); Paul Leim (drums, percussion); Eric Darken (percussion); Mark Tamburino, Jim Chapman, Kenny Chesney, Melonie Cannon, Wyatt Beard, Buddy Cannon (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Justin Niebank.

Recording information: Masterfonics Recording Studios, Nashville, TN; Sound Emporium Studios, Nashville, TN; Sound Kitchen Recording Studios, Nashville, TN.

Photographers: Glen Rose; David McClister.

At the age of 74, tireless country icon Willie Nelson sounds as committed to his work as ever on MOMENT OF FOREVER. Co-produced by none other than Kenny Chesney, the album is named after a richly reflective Kris Kristofferson song (also the title of a 1995 Kristofferson album) that provides one of the highlights here. Nelson settles into this and the rest of the tunes with a weathered voice heavy with accumulated wisdom. Even when venturing a little further afield for material, he sounds completely comfortable. Bob Dylan's born-again-era hit "Gotta Serve Somebody" and Dave Matthews's "Gravedigger" fit as well here as the handful of tracks that Nelson penned himself.

From the poignant balladry of Randy Newman's "Louisiana" to the funky country-soul grooves of "Takin' on Water;" with its greasy horn stabs and get-down, Stevie Wonder-style clavinet, Nelson makes it clear that even as he approaches his 50th anniversary as a recording artist, he still has a statement to make.

Uncut (p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "No country titan has straddled both sides of Nashville's musical divide quite like Nelson....[With] covers and three Willie originals..."

Down Beat (p.81) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "He's at his best when ripping through twisted honky-tonk tunes like 'You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore.'"

Dirty Linen (pp.56-57) - "The reading of Kris Kristofferson's 'Moment of Forever' is particularly tender; 'Keep Me From Blowing Away' scores the platter's most heartfelt interpretation."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.102) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[Nelson is] grizzled, weary-voiced and all the more relevant for his ability to make every song sound like an integral part of his life."

The Word (magazine) - "The focus falls on two elements of Willie Nelson -- the intimate, crackling delivery and the lightness of touch -- and by force of his vividly constructed persona, both are magnified the older he gets."