Jean, have you ever been wrong when it comes to matters concerning music? I doubt it!

Everyone else, here's a true KYTRAD story. It was a hot Sunday morning at the 2003 Eisteddfod in Brooklyn, New York, and Jean was among the performers in the sacred song round robin mini-concert. Jean did one song, but the when her turn came again she said that her voice wasn't up to it. So she asked if anyone in the audience would like to come up to the stage and do a song in her place.

The response was total silence. I saw quite a few talented folks in that audience, and I cannot honestly say that even one of them was shy. Had this been anyone else offering up his or her turn, you couldn't keep the swarm of would-be singers down with a high pressure fire hose. But this wasn't just anyone else. This was Jean, and stepping up to sing a song in her place would be like stepping up to pinch hit for Babe Ruth. Even if the Bambino were in the midst of an oh for twenty slump, you just didn't do it.

The comparison is a good one. If the Babe was the Sultan of Swat, then Jean is the Sultana of Song. Just picture her mountain dulcimer in place of a Louisville Slugger.

--- Steve