I grew up in a farm town in Indiana. In the early years I played by myself, because there were no other musicians around.

I was surprised when I finally moved to Boston and the East Coast, to discover that there weren't that many vibraphone players around. And I was the only one playing with four mallets.

There are a few things that I will hopefully be credited for as a pioneer. One is my four-mallet playing. Another one is the starting what was first called jazz rock in 1967 when I started my first band, later became jazz fusion by the 1970s.

I've discovered all kinds of music and done all kinds of music over the past 40 years, from playing tango with Piazzolla to all the different bands I've had.

I grew up in a farm town in Indiana. In the early years I played by myself, because there were no other musicians around.

Improvising musicians are musical travelers, voyagers. There is a freedom to wander the musical landscape.

It hasn't been hard getting nominated, but winning it is another thing. The competition is tough.