I started playing jazz by slowing down Tal Farlow records and analyzing his runs

Bob Erlendson, a local piano player, taught me chord structure and which scales go along with them. Later, I began listening to [pianists] Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner. Then I got interested in [saxophonist] John Coltrane.

I also became inspired by impressionist painters such as Renoir, and wanted to do the same sort of thing with music-portray whatever mood strikes me the way Keith Jarrett does on piano.

I started playing jazz by slowing down Tal Farlow records and analyzing his runs

My folks were country music performers. They made records and even did a few tours with the Grand Ole Opry. There always were a lot of guitarists around.