To Charley Noble... I don't agree with your challenge to JohnB. I believe JohnB is 100% spot on... with his comment about the apparent snobbish folk song purists. I never to an "improve" another artist work. I take a work to make it mine... or even something else altogether.

I am a professional jazz vocalist... and on occasion... I'll pick up a song from another time / culture / genre / etc... and transform it into a smooth jazz arrangement. I've done it with R&B, Rock, Country and Western, African, Jamaican to name a few. I generally will go out of my way to set up a clear departure from the original. That way, no one can think I am trying to imitate the artist who made created or made the song famous. But I faithfully try and make certain I'm tipping my hat to the original spirit of the song in a way that the original story and message rings clear and true.

Let's all sing more,

~Willis Miller~   

willismillerjazz.com