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

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.

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

I'm always looking for ways to develop as a Jazz artist, to find different ways of using my voice.

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.