I just have a lot off different influences.

I finally decided if I was going to make a living, I was gonna have to come to New York.

I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the army after that. When I came out of the army, I was a different person. I met a lot of good jazz players in the army.

If it's worth remembering, I'll remember it. If something keeps coming back, if I keep thinking of that phrase, if I see manifestations of it at different times and different places, then I feel it's worth making a song out of.

A young man ain't nothin' in the world these days

All the classic jazz players all sang and a lot of 'em sang blues.

I'm always storing away phrases and ideas and things that I think might turn into songs.