The true artform is being a human being.

When I was in my early teens, I remember coming to the conclusion that your life never ends.

When a human being is oppressed, the natural tendency is to feel anger. Jazz is a response to oppression that is not bullets and blood. Jazz is the expression of harmony ... and at the same time of hope and freedom.

I don't view myself as a musician anymore - I view myself as a human being that functions as a musician when I'm functioning as a musician, but that's not 24 hours a day. That's really opened me up to even more perspectives because now I look at music, not from the standpoint of being a musician, but from the standpoint of being a human being.

Technology has developed to a whole other level and theres the scientist part of me that loves that stuff.

Jazz has been the voice of freedom for so many countries over the past half century.

The arts have always served relationships between people of different cultures so well. In a way, the arts function as a very serious kind of ambassador.