With their soaring harmonies and remarkable musical versatility, this Canadian trio, which originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, has not lost an inch on its fastball.

The Wailin’ Jennys — if you can sit through a Jennys concert without feeling that emotional rush brought on by a transcendent musical moment, you have a hard heart and/or a tin ear.

By Glenn Rifkin

In the love fest disguised as a Wailin’ Jennys concert at the Somerville Theater on May 8, the adoring audience wasn’t shy about shouting out its amorous feelings toward these gifted songbirds. The Jennys, who are celebrating their 12th year as a band, were in high spirits and full voice, and it is clear that they have a mutual admiration society going with Boston. They love us, too, they said over and over. And for their rabid fan base, that’s a good thing. Because it had been several years since the band had come to the Boston area, having ditched their touring efforts for the birth of babies, and now we know that it wasn’t anything personal. They have several more New England dates coming later this summer and one thing is certain: they won’t have any trouble filling the seats.

With their soaring harmonies and remarkable musical versatility, this Canadian trio, which originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, has not lost an inch on its fastball. Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta, the two original members, and Heather Masse, an American who joined the Jennys in 2007, bring a vocal dexterity that is nothing short of inspiring. Yes, this sounds hyperbolic but trust me, if you can sit through a Jennys concert without feeling that emotional rush brought on by a transcendent musical moment, you have a hard heart and/or a tin ear.

Each is a talented songwriter, with the versatile Moody playing guitar, banjo, accordion and percussion, and singing many of the Jennys most popular folk, blue grass and traditional offerings, all her compositions. Her “Glory Bound” and “One Voice” are show stoppers and her dulcet but strong soprano is like sweet honey. Mehta, the group’s comic relief, is also an immensely talented songwriter and musician, singing her own compositions such as “Swing Low Sail High” in a powerful alto voice that is her signature. The statuesque Masse, who hails from Maine and studied jazz vocals at the New England Conservatory, stepped into the band seamlessly and has brought her own unique vocal styling that has resulted in a fuller, richer sound.

Moody’s brother Richard, a talented if somewhat dour presence, accompanies the group on violin and mandolin. Though his sparkling violin riffs carry more than a few of the tunes, it often appears that the taciturn Moody would rather be watching a hockey game than standing off to the side of these dynamic young women.

The Jennys performed many of their well-known compositions such as “Arlington,” “Beautiful Dawn,” “Begin,” “Storm Comin’” and the stirring acapella finale “The Parting Glass.” Another acapella, Hank William’s “Weary Blues From Waiting,” demonstrated their fine three-part harmony, as did Emmy Lou Harris’s A Deeper Well. They added numbers by Tom Petty and Dolly Parton and left the audience more than satiated but still wanting more.

What makes a Jennys show so gratifying is that this is a band comfortable in its own skin. They have become regulars on Prairie Home Companion but generally fly well below the pop star radar. Like so many incredibly talented musicians in this “Famous to a Few” strata, the Jennys have a passionate cult following that makes the evening a reunion of old friends more than a concert. Joking back and forth with the audience, Mehta shooting a video with her smartphone of the audience shouting a greeting to her five-year old twins, and a genuine feeling of warmth around a campfire, it would be hard to find fault with such a enchanting evening.

If there was anything amiss it would be the lack of new material. The Jennys last CD Bright Morning Stars was recorded in 2009 and released in 2011, and if they have anything new in the works, they kept mum about it and didn’t sing anything that they identified as brand new.

Clearly, this is a band that revels in its personal life as much as it embraces its musical soul. I’d be shocked if the inspiration that brought them to this stage dissipates anytime soon. In the meantime, catch them if you can, eh.

Glenn Rifkin is a veteran journalist and author who has covered business for many publications including The New York Times for more than 25 years. Among his books are Radical Marketing and The Ultimate Entrepreneur. His efforts as an arts critic and food writer represent a new and exciting direction.