I am a person who thinks about the music first in trying to achieve something musically valid.

Charlie Parker stuck out in my mind.

I feel that L.A. has not always been my strongest base for support. That can be for various reasons.

I'm not supposed to be playing, the music is supposed to be playing me. I'm just supposed to be standing there with the horn, moving my fingers. The music is supposed to be coming through me; that's when it's really happening.

It's all about creation and surprise. It just needs to be appreciated and watered like flowers. You have to water flowers. These peaks will come again.

But if I didn't have to make money, I would still play my horn.

I've played with all of the heavyweights in the modern jazz, progressive jazz movement. I've been fortunate enough to play with them, a who's who. All of those guys, I've been fortunate enough to have performed with.