There has to be a real strong reason to do something with someone for me.

People sometimes say it takes a long time to become a Jazz fan, but for me it took about five seconds.

I met Gary (Burton) at the Wichita Jazz Festival when I was 18 -- he was one of my favorite musicians and I got to play a few tunes with him there. Shortly after that, I joined his band, which was the equivalent of joining the Beatles for me! He was, and still is, one of the greatest musicians I have ever been lucky enough to be around.

I was deep in the zone of practicing almost constantly

Whatever my recorded output is, it's a reflection of a general love of music.

Jazz demands that you bring to it things that are valuable to you, that are personal to you.

Smokin' at the Half Note is the absolute greatest jazz-guitar album ever made. It is also the record that taught me how to play.