I was working in the local tourist office and I said to the manager, 'We should do something to make Montreux known in America. Let's do a jazz festival!

And my answer is very simple. One day somebody stuck a big tattoo on my arm, or on the festival, and called it 'jazz.' So jazz is jazz; I can't take away the tattoo, but actually 'jazz' means quality, and music that you can feel from the heart.

The first time I went to America in the mid-1960s, I was telling (everyone) I was from Montreux, Switzerland,

Keith Jarrett did the first festival when he was part of the Charles Lloyd quartet, ... Then he came back 15 years ago. This year he is doing only four concerts worldwide, and we are very proud that he picked out Montreux as one of the dates.

Of course, people are saying, 'Why is it called 'jazz festival?'

We've acted properly in this office, ... I understand the pressures and I understand this group just wants to pay less taxes. If you want to be an assessor and can't take the heat, don't do the job.