Miles Davis was doing something inherently African, something that has to do with all forms of American music, not just jazz.

I cringed when I heard myself described as a Jazz singer. I've always thought of myself as a Jazz vocalist.

My grandmother sang, too, and she was really loud. It was this wild kind of singing. I count her among my influences.

Being black, I'm involved in the reparations movement. It's focused toward the African-American audience. We could begin to heal.

My father had all kinds of instruments in the house that he would hide from my mother. He bought them through mail order!

I was never interested in singing in the church or school. I was more interested in becoming a musician.

Everything I do is collaborative. It's just my way. I'm really very interested in how the other musicians perceive the song.