I applied for a scholarship to Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. I knew I was good enough, but they turned me down. And it took me about six months to realize it was because I was black. I never really got over that jolt of racism at the time.

I can't stand loud guitars that make me deaf.

Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.

I believe in racial memory too. I'm sure I've got ancient African blood in me that has something to do with what I am.

To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that's not what I play. I play black classical music.

I made wine from the lilac tree/Put my heart in its recipe/It makes me see what I want to see/And be what I want to be

I love to travel to hear different kinds of music.