Jazz is a state of mind. There's no boundaries.

Experiment is actually doing the art. That's the experiment and then you get to experience the experiment.

My first memories of life were in rehearsal; thats why I can sleep through anything.

I think the people who are saying jazz has to sound a particular way, or "what you're doing isn't jazz," are just scared because they can't do it. A lot of them just aren't talented enough to do anything new, honestly. It's the people who are talented enough and who have the open mind and who are forward-thinkers are the ones who are doing something new. You tend to hate on what you can't produce.

Jazz is a state of mind. There's no boundaries.

Sometimes I'll write a song first and then I'm like, "Oh this person will be great on this song." But there are some artists I know what want, like off the top I knew I wanted Brandy and Faith Evans. Their music is like the soundtrack to my life, so it was a personal thing for me. So once they said yes, I wrote songs specifically for them.

If I was a singer who won those Grammys, I'd be gracing all the magazine covers... I barely got asked to do an interview.