I have yet to find myself arbitrating a heated argument about which is better or more worthy. It's kind of like - which is better, apples of swim fins?

That said, for every stunning virtuoso like Stephane Grapelli or brilliant visionary like Miles Davis, jazz has had 10 mega-successful but artistically pedestrian Diana Krall or George Benson.

Likewise for all of it's reputation as being backporch hillbillie music, bluegrass has produced incredible players of originality and versatility who have the chops to play along side anyone making a living playing jazz. In fact a close listen will reveal that bluegrass tips its straw hat to jazz and swing with a great regularity.

They may not be household names, but Doc Watson, Vassar Clements, Tony Trishka, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien, David Grisman, Mark O'Connor, Tony Rice, Todd Phillips don't have to bow down to anyone in a smokey New York club wearing a pork pie hat and a $1,000 suit.