Leftover Salmon LEFTOVER SALMON (Compendia)

The pioneers of the poly-ethnic Cajun slamgrass sound are back with their first studio release since 1999’s Nashville Sessions. The departures of drummer Michael Wooten and bassist Tye North coupled with the death of banjoist Mark Vann in 2002 forced Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt, the remaining founding members, to rebuild from the ground up on this homonymous release. "Down in the Hollow" and the instrumental "Lincoln at Nevada" keep banjo melodies with upbeat tempos front and center, offering proof that nothing has been lost in the restructuring of the band.

Leftover Salmon’s true talent remains combining bluegrass with disparate genres. "Delta Queen" takes on the form of a slow rock ballad; "Whispering Waters" throws a jazzy piano solo into an otherwise standard bluegrass tune. The band overreach a bit on "Just Keep Walkin’," a heavier rock-inflected track that comes off as a heavy-handed novelty number. Like most so-called jam bands, Salmon are known more for their live performances than for their studio efforts. But here they reproduce the freewheeling energy and musicianship they’ve displayed on stage.

(Leftover Salmon perform next Thursday, July 15, at Harpers Ferry, 156 Brighton Avenue in Allston; call 617-254-9743. The following night, July 16, they’re at the Wellfleet Beachcomber, 1120 Cahoon Hollow Road in Wellfleet; call 508-349-6055.)