As a very small girl, I listened to Charlie Parker and loved him and Max Roach and people like that.

Mozart was born Mozart. Charlie Parker was born Charlie Parker.

I sing to the realists; people who accept it like it is.

I'll make waffles. My face lights up. Yes, she continues and bacon.
I look at Max and nod towards Charlie
That's my girl!
Damn straight, he says.

Ready or not! Before I can stop him, Max races toward the bed and dives on top of us. Oh! Oh it feels even better than I imagined. He rolls back and forth across us as Charlie laughs and I wonder why I am friends with such a raging idiot.

It was my band. I organized the band and Dizzy was in the band. Dizzy was the first musical director with the band. Charlie Parker was in the band. But, no, no, that was my band.