Bill (Semilivemusic), your honesty is refreshing. I can much more easily relate to someone explaining WHY they can't warm up to a particular genre' than just blatantly slamming it. I love Jazz (modern) and (some) Blues and admit that I have a difficult time warming up to most Country music and Country artists. One exception is Willie Nelson who, for some inexplicable reason, I absolutely love. Maybe it has something to do with his history as one of the great writers of some of the best R&B tunes of the 50's and 60's (this was during his lean years). Liking or disliking one genre' or another has a lot to do with one's culture and early musical influences. I grew up in a household where mostly Jazz was played; Ellington, Basie, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, etc. As a young person, my college years were filled with Miles, Coltrane, Bill Evans, MJQ, Bird, Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderly, etc. Classical piano since age 5 along with having to learn all the hip charts (if you wanted to gig with the big boys) gave me a profound appreciation for the beauty and melodic and harmonic complexity of Jazz (from Dixieland to Don Cherry and Archie Shepp). I realize that Jazz is not for everybody; it demands a lot from the listener and sometimes you just want to see the Three Stooges instead of The English Patient. Nothing wrong with that. Mindless entertainment is a good thing, but after awhile I need to get back to something with some substance. As an African-American (I actually prefer Black), I admit to a certin bias against Country music because of it's strong symbolism. For me, it's more a visceral thing, like seeing a rebel flag. I know that there is quality Country music out there, just as there is quality music within every genre'. So I say, rather than hating one type of music, whether Rap or Classical, let's embrace the diversity of music that makes this board, this country, this world, such an awesome place for music lovers of every stripe.

Peace,

chas