Submitted photoAmos Lee

Amos Lee likes to keep things interesting. Whether he’s sharing the stage with Jack Johnson or singing with a gospel choir, playing the main stage of ginormous festivals such as Bonnaroo or headlining Red Rocks Amphitheatre (as he’s scheduled to do Aug. 1), Lee is blessed with an inherent musical curiosity.

That adventurous spirit informed the rootsy singer-songwriter’s fifth studio record, “Mountains of Sorrow, River of Song.” Out since October, the 12-song album ventures into gospel, blues, country and funk. And, lucky for you, Lee’s promotional U.S. and Canada tour lands him at Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend tonight (see “If you go”). Portland soft-rock players Black Prairie, featuring Nate Query and Chris Funk of The Decemberists, serves as opening act.

For the album’s recording sessions, Lee took his talents to Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked with producer Jay Joyce, who’s done studio time with the likes of Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin.

Griffin turns up on Lee’s record, singing harmony on the track “Mountains of Sorrow.” The tune, according to promotional materials, was inspired by Lee’s 2010 visit to the home of The Band drummer Levon Helm to play one of Helm’s famous Midnight Ramble shows.

Another notable, Alison Krauss, appears on the album, singing with Lee on “Chill In The Air.” Read on for more from Lee, who submitted to an email Q&A about the album and tonight’s show:

GO: How did recording in Nashville affect the new songs and album?

Amos Lee: (It) was really more about working with my touring band. They brought the energy the songs called for and we have a musical understanding of each other. We just went down and had a good time. Those guys are integral to my sound in a live setting. It’s still a studio record, but it’s more or less live.

GO: Did you go there specifically looking to add a little twang to your sound?

Lee: I went to Nashville to work with Jay Joyce, my band and continue the hard work my road guys brought to the shows every night.

GO: Did you sing in the same space with Alison Krauss? If so, did you feel any nerves singing alongside her?

Lee: We both sang in the same studio but Alison came in after the basic tracks were finished. Alison is super cool. When I first heard her sing, we were in Scotland with Jerry Douglas doing this recording called the “Transatlantic Sessions,” and I was just floored.

GO: Your writing and ability to dive into other genres has been called “chameleonic” — do you think it’s a result of your interests or influences, or does that stylistic versatility just occur so naturally you don’t really think about it?

Lee : I love all kinds of music. My ears just never stop listening and that’s probably going to influence how I hear things. I think Duke Ellington said, “There’s two types of music: good music, and the other kind.” That’s how I feel about it.

GO: What would you say has been the biggest motivating force in your music career?

Lee: Building a catalog that will stand the test of time.

GO: What can folks expect from your live show here in Bend?

Lee: A dynamic concert with songs from all of the records. We also try to play around with the instrumentation — banjo, mandolin, horns — every night is a little different. We all have a great time and are psyched to be playing for the fans.

GO: Any interesting covers — say, like “Like a Virgin” — that might make your way into the set?

Lee: We’ve been doing some fun covers like Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).” Who knows what’s next, just like to keep things fresh.

— Reporter: 541-383-0349, djasper@bendbulletin.com