Jade Elizabeth Taylor

Long before I moved to Santa Cruz, I would make the long journey from Esalen in Big Sur with my friend Jeanine Pollock to watch City Folk. Never for a moment did I dream that the musicians I watched from the audience would one day record on my own project.

Keith is a true inclusionist. He has a rare gift for bringing together a band of "glorious peasants," each with their own unique musical prowess, and weaving them into something spectacular. We recorded our sessions up at Ridge Top Studios with the brilliant Tim Prince at the helm.

I initially set out to record songs by writers I deeply admired—Kate Wolf, Susan Werner—until one day, I plucked up the courage to record my own. Then, menopause hit me like a ton of bricks. I became allergic to the world; speaking above a whisper triggered a coughing fit. I could hardly talk, let alone sing, and so the project went dormant for four years while I underwent weekly allergy shots to rebuild my tolerance.

During that time of no outward voice, I turned inward. I started writing songs for others to sing—they became my voice. Through it all, Keith and his wonderful wife, Susan, became heart friends. I spent years dancing at their shows, selling CDs, and helping with their website. If anyone ever asked me, "If you were stuck on a desert island and could only bring one CD, which would it be?" my answer was always the same: Keith Greeninger’s Wind River Crossing.