I'm aware that a lot of what is happening in jazz has not had a very dynamic change in a long time.

I've had a life that has taken many interesting paths. I've learned a lot from mentors who were instrumental in shaping me, and I want to share what I've learned.

There's so much spontaneity involved, what do you practice? How do you practice teamwork? How do you practice sharing? How do you practice daring? How do you practice being nonjudgmental?

Clare Fischer was a major influence on my harmonic concept. He and Bill Evans, and Ravel and Gil Evans, finally. You know, that's where it really came from. Almost all of the harmony that I play can be traced to one of those four people and whoever their influences were.

You make different colors by combining those colors that already exist.

It's not exclusive, but inclusive, which is the whole spirit of jazz.

Nobody told me I was a child prodigy.