The rustic, poignant,and wide-ranging sounds of singer/songwriter and banjo player Abigail Washburn appear so genuine and natural, they must come from a person who grew up surrounded by folk and bluegrass. The way Washburn came to this music is much more complicated, however, as it involves China, lost banjos, and the rock group Collective Soul. Although Washburn grew up singing, she had no longing to become a professional musician, and part-time gigs singing backup in reggae, gospel, and R&B bands were nothing more than fun activities. But a trip to China in 1996 changed all that.