I'm hip boots deep in traditional American folk music, rhythm and blues, old gospel(black and white), rock and roll and jazz, but pretty shallow (I realize) in British Isles music. Not from a lack of interest, because I love what I have heard and bought. I am damp-soled on contemporary singer-songwriters.. not to dismiss them all as worthless, but because my loves are elsewhere (and I don't want to be reminded of lousy romances turned sour.) I cut my folk teeth on the Anthology of American Folk Music, although I loved what I heard all the way back to the 50's.

And Mudlark: my taste in jazz is very West Coast, even though I grew up in Wisconsin. Some of my favorite albums are by Howard Rumsey and his Lighthouse All-stars. I also was extremely excited to find an out-of-print CD of the Chico Hamilton Quintet recently.

I love reading the threads on Mudcat, whether I am familiar with the music or not, although I get far less out of threads about musicians I haven't heard. And think of all the wonderful musicians and music we've all heard locally, or regionally that most of the rest of us have never heard!

Jerry