Norah Jones has never hid her affection for country music. Her Grammy-winning 2002 debut album “Come Away With Me” — which has sold 23 million units worldwide — featured a compelling cover of Hank Williams’ “Cold Cold Heart.” She’s also been nominated for Grammys for duets with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson — the latter of whom inspired the name for the long-running country band Jones has been performing in for more than 10 years. The Little Willies’ second album, “For The Good Times” — a Kris Kristofferson composition made into a country standard by Ray Price — once again puts a loose-yet-sophisticated spin on several old-school classics.

Truly a group project, the Little Willies focus on individual musicianship and ensemble interaction. Guitarist Jim Campilongo especially, is single-note-style treasure; bassist Lee Alexander, guitarist-singer Richard Julian, and drummer Dan Rieser also return and make important contributions. Julian occasionally takes lead vocals, sounding especially effective on the great, rarely covered Willie Nelson ballad, “Permanently Lonely.”