I just think that I associated music with something that was healing and transformative as a kid.

Sometimes I would go on Sundays and play with Doc Cheatham. I was also playing in a band of teenagers led by Don Sickler called Young Sounds, and The McDonald's Big Band led by Rich De Rosa and Justin Di Cioccio. All those guys were great educators and musicians and taught me a lot! Simultaneous to all this, another one of my musical fathers came into my life, Eddie Locke.

Love the process and you’ll love what the process produces.

Another classical music teacher from Performing Arts that I've stayed in contact with is Jonathan Strasser.

I was really falling in love with jazz and dedicating myself in that direction.

I never got to play with Art [ Blakey], but he was kind and spoke to me a number of times. He said, "You know, the people who are working 40 hours a week. Those are the ones who are really paying dues. Sitting at a desk doing the same thing every day. We're really blessed to do what we do."

Don't waste your energy on those who don't get on your bus.