It's great to have other people's help. Then the music gets heard. There's a lot more commercial support for that now.

I'm very conscious of developing my singing, technically and stylistically. I want it to become more individual, express more of me. That's my goal. These songs are steps along that way.

It's wonderful to work with someone with mentor status.

My father had a varied ear, from Hank Williams to Ravel.

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

I think I was probably an early teenager when I discovered Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and a bunch of people that are on a long list of artists. They were important to me, especially as an early adolescent.

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.