GIVEN his position in American country and roots music, you would have thought that Jerry Douglas would take pretty much everything in his stride.

After all, he’s a man with 14 Grammy Awards to his name - his latest album What If was nominated for another Grammy - and is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest resonator guitar players.

But he admits that his annual trip over from the States for the Transatlantic Sessions is one of the highlights of his year.

“I’ve never been in a musical situation like it,” he said. “I look around and marvel every night that it works at all.”

Initially a project for TV, the Transatlantic Sessions saw musicians from the UK and America celebrating their shared musical heritage and playing together. The programmes spawned a series of live concerts and next Friday, Jerry will be bringing the 2018 line-up to Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

Jerry is responsible for inviting performers from the States to join the resident house band while Aly Bain does the same for UK musicians.

This year’s sessions will feature Suzy Bogguss and the Secret Sisters from the US and Julie Fowlis and Dubliner Daoirí Farrell from the UK.

“I’ve been in a very special seat over the years,” said Jerry. “It’s wonderful to see it from my vantage point.

“Just to get the opportunity to bring something like this is as entertaining for me as it is for everyone else. I love to do it. I’m a huge fan of all this stuff so I know I get as much out of it as anyone.

“I’ve been fortunate to see it grow and it gets better and better. It’s good for your musical soul.”

Bringing so many musicians together is a major undertaking.

“The important thing is to try to keep the bar high with the people that we bring and keep it entertaining,” said Jerry.

“I do know what people like and I try to bring you something along those lines but I also want to challenge you too and get you open your ears to some things that you may not have heard or thought of – that’s my job.”

He’s particularly excited to bring the Secret Sisters to this year’s sessions.

“They are our wildcard,” he said. “They are so special.”

At any one time there will be 17 musicians on stage which makes rehearsals ‘interesting’.

“We will get two solid days of rehearsals before we start the tour and usually the day of first show we’ll rehearse that day too. There are a lot of notes played in those two-and-a-half days that’s for sure.

“Then when we hit the stage it all just comes together.

“I do feel like a proud dad. To have 17 people sitting there all ready to play, you just feel this big wave of inspiration at all times.

“Everybody’s got your back which is really something to be part of. Everybody is so comfortable with their job but it’s not a job, it’s fun – it’s the travelling we charge money for; it’s the music that’s free.”

Jerry Douglas presents the Transatlantic Sessions, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Friday, February 9. Details from 0161 907 9000 or www.thebridgewater-hall.co.uk