The older I get the more I realize the importance of maintaining an even temperament – not getting too emotional focusing on the task at hand. You dont want to make a business deal based on your emotions.

Its much like playing jazz flying. Its multitasking in real time. You have a number of instruments that alone wont tell you exactly what the airplane is doing but together give you a picture of everything thats going on.

Im not saying that in order to be a great jazz musician you have to be a great classical pianist first. But I am saying that it makes things easier when you can get around the instrument and you have some idea of how to approach the various hurdles.

Theres a huge part of me thats thinking about perfection. I have to fight that urge to try to live in the moment reach for something that I might be hearing and not second-guess myself.

A lot of times we look at jazz in eras. How can we not keep those eras separate and think of the language as one complete continuum? Its all interrelated and its all evolutionary.

I consider myself very fortunate. I mean I think theres that old saying Where theres a will theres a way and I just have such a passion for jazz music and playing the piano that I just find a way to make it work so to speak. Fortunately

My father I think he played percussion in high school. My mother played piano when she was very young but only for a brief while. I dont think she had a great teacher. In any case neither of them were really into music at a young age.

I really want to bring ensemble playing back to the forefront – not just for me but for everyone in jazz. When you have a group a true co-op group you can really heighten the possibilities of all the treasures of jazz.

I had experiences or exposure to music in church. I went to a church it was very unique. It was a predominantly African American Catholic church. So they would have – one mass would be traditional church music and then the other mass would be gospel music.

When I see young people interested in music. I always look out for that passion in their eyes. You never know where that might lead.

My grandfather Arthur Baskerville he played and still plays a little bit piano and trombone and so when I was a kid I always heard jazz around the house but I also went to his gigs Ohio. Wed go and hear him play with some of the local musicians.