I was commuting three to four hours a day, I had jobs for much of it. But I was always involved in going to some ensemble someplace. Taking my lessons at the local Jewish community center on Staten Island.

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

I had made a couple of records in Europe. One as a leader, and one as a sideman before that. It was what it was. I started to work with Maria Schneider around that period and some other people, I started to get called to sub at the Vanguard in my mid-20s.

I think [Phil Wood] didn't suffer fools gladly, but he loved supporting young people that loved the music.

Being positive won’t guarantee you’ll succeed. But being negative will guarantee you won’t.

Challenges ONLY make you STRONGER!!!

I just lucked into a lot of good people man. In my life and through friends, and in the music, that really embraced me and took care of me. I'm a lucky guy.