The Real Bahamas is (was) a Nonesuch recording, and the material was recorded in the field by Jody Stecher and Peter Siegel. Wonderful music, highly recommended!

One of my favorite "ironic" stories: Caroline and I did a "gig from Heaven" some years ago -- a program and a workshop in the Bahamas which gave us aairfare and a week of hospitality as an extra perk. We stayed with an English couple who complained that there was no "folk music" in the Bahamas. What they meant was that Joan Baez didn't go there to do concerts. I suggested that they might explore the music of the islands, recording traditional songs. "How could we ever find it?" they asked. "Why not start with the black Bahamian churches?" says I. "But how do we find one where we could be accepted?" they asked again. At this point, Caroline went out to their kitchen where there maid, Nora, was washing dishes. A moment later Nora came back with her. "My son is a minister in a 'jumper' church. You could go there," she suggested. We called him, were invited to attend, of course, and given permission to record the service. Altogether a memorable experience. We had to come home, and I have no follow-up to the story, I'm afraid. The English couple moved to the Caymans and we sort of lost touch. But there it is... folk music can be found all around us. We just have to look for it.

Sandy