Musicians tend to limit themselves,

I'm aiming that towards people, towards humanity, not even just musicians. Because this is about life, not about musicians.

Jazz is a music that translates the moment into a sense of inspiration for not only the musicians but for the listeners.

I got a chance to work with Miles Davis, and that changed everything for me, 'cause Miles really encouraged all his musicians to reach beyond what they know, go into unknown territory and explore. It's made a difference to me and the decisions that I've made over the years about how to approach a project in this music.

Clare Fischer was a major influence on my harmonic concept. He and Bill Evans, and Ravel and Gil Evans, finally. You know, that's where it really came from. Almost all of the harmony that I play can be traced to one of those four people and whoever their influences were.

He just blew me away and what it taught me was that Miles didn't hear it as a mistake.