One of the advantages of not having a record contract is that you can make your own mistakes, you don't need somebody else to organize them for you.

But when I first got cancer, after the initial shock and the fear and paranoia and crying and all that goes with cancer - that word means to most people ultimate death - I decided to see what I could do to take that negative and use it in a positive way.

What I try to do is produce an atmosphere where musicians want to invest in what they do and give to the recording. I hire those musicians who I know will play something creative and interesting.

To most jazz critics I was basically Kenny G.

If you want to play somebody's music, you'd better go into his house.

I recently formed a foundation to raise awareness for prostate cancer. I feel it's very necessary that men be more aware about prostate cancer and their health in general.

My father's father came from Russia; my mother came from Romania.