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

It's not the style that motivates me, as much as an attitude of openness that I have when I go into a project.

I'm very conscious of the idea of trying to each time present something that I haven't presented before. It's a challenge to me to find something new, to find something innovative, but it's also very exciting.

The most valuable things in life are priceless. They are courage, compassion, wisdom, respect for ourselves and others, and a host of characteristics that we call the beauty of the human spirit.

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.

All you have to do is play one note. But it needs to be the right note.

I look for what's of value and extract that. I don't look to criticize.