Rick,

I think you've really put your finger on it. The whole idea of folk music is that it is homemade and not intended to meet the criteria we place on other genres. From my point of view, that accounts for much of its appeal.

A jazz musician is someone who's abilities and sensibilities meet the demands of jazz. A folk musician, by the same token, is someone who's abilities and sensibilities meet the demands of folk music. The expecations we have of each are drastically different.

- Mark