Holding on to some of your uniqueness is the trick instead of surrendering it at the Academy of Contemporary We're Gonna Make You a Star.

Close to the Edge, Red, One of a kind, Discipline, Earthworks, The Sound of Surprise, all seem to me to be albums that captured the essence of the intention.

People come with expectations and as a bandleader I constantly try to remind the audience to leave its expectations in the lobby.

You learn so much about music from all the people you surround yourself with - good, bad and indifferent. It's extremely hard to be specific.

This amateurism however, can sometimes be helpful in forging a style; you have to work around your weaknesses.

I listen to Bill Stewart play the drums and when I have finished doing that, I listen to Bill Stewart.

So I have the classic amateur's technique; I know some very tricky bits and I have large gaping holes.