It was quiet as I unloaded my car at the 2011 McLain Festival, a Celtic cultural event in Carlisle, Pa. There were the faint sounds of traffic, of course, but otherwise nothing -- until very suddenly, the sounds of a clear, deep baritone came soaring over the trees.

Charlie Zahm had just started singing "Kilkelly," and I quickened my pace so I could arrive at his stage before the long, somber song -- based on letters to an American emigree from his loving father in Ireland -- reached its doleful end. I made it in time for the last few verses and joined the enthusiastically applauding crowd.

I was especially happy to see Charlie that day -- not that hearing him sing isn't always a treat -- because he had waiting for me a copy of his latest CD, Songs of Highlands, Islands & Home, the third in his Festival Favorites series of recordings. I already knew I liked it; Charlie was generously replacing my original copy, which had flown to parts unknown.

If you haven't heard him sing before, let me tell you something about Charlie: He loves music, he truly delights in performing, and his enjoyment reverberates through every syllable he utters and spreads quickly to anyone lucky enough to be in hearing range. Oh, and he's got a great voice, rich and smooth.

There's nothing startling to be found on Songs, by the way, if only because I've grown accustomed to the quality of Zahm's recordings. The music is varied, well mixed and artfully arranged; although he usually performs solo or in the company of fiddler Tad Marks and/or percussionist Mark Sullivan, the disc puts nine musicians to work (and keeps them out of trouble, no doubt, if only for the time they spent in the studio).

The selection is dominated by traditional songs, starting with "We'll Rant & We'll Roar," a Newfoundland variation on the English seafarer, "Spanish Ladies," and rolling on through the rousing "Men of Harlech," "The Holy Ground," a jovial "Nancy Whiskey," "Last Farewell to Stirling" and "Rolling Home to Dear Olde England."

Other songs include the aforementioned "Kilkelly," plus "Rowan Tree," "Dark Lochnagar" and "Garten Mother's Lullaby." Zahm also gives good service to "Mull of Kintyre," a Paul McCartney tune that fits neatly among the traditionals, and "Bring Him Home," a stirring entreaty from my favorite stage musical, Les Miserables.

A surprising standout in the collection is "Apples in the Sun," a romantic Zahm original based on his reconnection -- after a 27-year parting -- with his high school sweetheart, Cathy (to whom this CD is dedicated). While the ear-catching song ends with lovers still parted, rest assured the real-life parallel has a sweeter conclusion; Charlie and Cathy were married this past spring. Another is "Matchstick Men," a tribute to late painter L.S. Lowry that is carried along on a melody that's hard to shake from your head.

Zahm has about two dozen CDs under his kilt -- so far -- and there's not a duffer in the bunch. Songs of Highlands, Islands & Home is an outstanding addition to my Zahm musical library -- and helps fill those irksome gaps between live performances.

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