Improvisation means coming to the situation without rigid expectations or preconceptions. The key to improvisation is motion — you keep going forward, fearful or not, living from moment to moment. That’s how life is.

I think we listen to music because we want to be changed. Music is not solely for our entertainment. Music has such tremendous power to bring joy. To me, that's our job as artists. Not happiness, not a groove, whatever. You must bring joy. I think that's the assignment. I have no doubt about it.

I use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.

The audience is like my instrument. It's not just me up there, it's collaborative.

Music is still part of my spiritual life. Sometimes I sing my prayers. When I get audiences singing, I hope I'm helping them feel connected to something beyond themselves.

Whenever I'm onstage, I try my best not to think that I'm performing. It's simply another part of my day.

To be a musician, you have to be honest... to be honest... to be honest.