Steep Canyon Rangers, “North Carolina Songbook” (Yep Roc)- Steep Canyon Rangers have become a regular fixture at Merlefest, the North Carolina roots music festival over the years, and their latest appearance at the prestigious event found this eclectic bluegrass outfit paying homage to some of the state’s musical icons via a quite extraordinary live set. It’s now available in CD and LP form for the benefit of those poor unfortunates who weren’t able to attend the show in person, showcasing their unique revamps of such diverse ditties as Ben E.King’s “Stand By Me,” James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James,” and, most surprising of all, maverick jazz man Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk.” Splendid stuff.