I never wanted to do anything else, really. I left home at an early age trying to find my voice, my niche in music.
I grew up with great mentors in my life who helped me become the singer I am today.
I never looked or really believed that music should be categorized into particular genres.
Music is a conversation between the audience and me, and I love that about my profession.
And I've found that, you know, the world of music is so vast and so broad, but at the same time, it's easy to find parts of yourself in places that you wouldn't even think that you were, you know?
I love Denver.
I lived in Los Angeles for a long time, and in a lot of ways, I felt like I lived in my car.
Anything that had to do with music is what I wanted to do.
Being from Colorado is, to me, very, very special. I'm just very thankful to be here. I'm also thankful to be a part of the history of this state.
Jazz is such a living art form. It happens right in the moment. You weave a story by changing certain elements and components.
My mother was actually born in Toledo and raised in Detroit.
I'm a chameleon. When you put me in certain soils, musically speaking, I will be in that place.
A lot of young people want to become jazz singers, but there are not more jam sessions like there used to be. I just want to have the opportunity to be able to bring that to some young people.
People think jazz music is all standards and the Great American Songbook. But it's really about the sensibility, the feel you bring to the music.
I think an artist who has it in their heart to do or say something, they'll say it. It's not something that's mandatory, but it will come out.
When I moved to Los Angeles, right away I met all kinds of musicians.
I think people have come to know that I am not comfortable in a box, you know, and that I love music.
The thing that I tell young people is everybody is unique in their approach to the music, and you have to protect that.
My junior high school teacher, Bennie Williams, was really more than a music teacher. She taught us poetry. She helped us put on school shows. She did all these kinds of things to help us stand in each other's shoes, and it was a really powerful time. That's when I discovered that I could sing.
I remember my grandmother used to always say, 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket.' But when I realized that music was inside of me, I decided I'm putting all my eggs in one basket.
