The wonderful thing about Jazz is its willingness to take chances.

Once I was in the city, I really enjoyed it. Just to experience things. There was so much new stuff.

I was very lucky. Things happened, both bad and good, but I never got into real, deep trouble. But it wore me down. By the time I was 18, I was done. I didn't want to live the life any more. I needed to develop past the point that busking takes you to.

I was just learning to play guitar when Tracy Chapman came out. She wrote these songs, she played them by herself and I so admired her for that.

I've always loved singing. I find it exhilarating.

I listened to Billie Holiday a lot in order to learn to sing. She remains one of the extraordinary jazz singers. But my intent is to become my own voice, to be able to interpret these songs in my own way.

I had my guitar and some talent so that I could make friends with intelligent people and could talk my way out of difficult situations.