Dan Herman, former reviewer, particularly enjoys American roots-oriented folk, bluegrass, jugband, jazz and klezmer music. He studied with banjo innovator Tony Trischka but decided that an instrument with an uneven number of strings was just too confusing; he now plays guitar exclusively. Richard Thompson is his current musical hero of heroes. Dan played New York City coffeehouses for many years during his misspent youth before assuming a legitimate career as a social worker and researcher working with homeless mentally ill people. He now lives in Katonah, NY with his wife and two kids.