In high school, we had a really great jazz program that I finally was able to be a part of. They only wanted instrumentalists; they didn't want any singers. But I made my way in, and I remember the conductor of the band wrote a lot of arrangements and asked me what I wanted to sing.
Early on, I started with classical voice and had that wonderful foundation. For where I wanted to go at that time, there were no teachers to teach it, so I came up with all kinds of different ways to develop the sound of my voice.
I'm always inspired to push forward.
I have a sketch of an idea and I never really talk about: perhaps do another jazz record, but with other elements involved.
Lizz Wright, we call her lovingly 'Amazing Grace.' She has a folk and gospel kind of approach to the music, and she writes beautiful lyrics and songs. She's like this balm that is really full and very rich and deep.
Now, jazz institutions are more readily available for young people, but for me, the institutions were the bands that I was in. When I worked with Clark Terry, that was the beginning of school for me, and Harry Belafonte and Sergio Mendes, they were all my universities.
There is a certain kind of fire that happens when you fall in love with a musician. I guess you understand one another because you're connected by a creative desire.
My friend Harry Belafonte is an activist and musician, an extraordinary man who has dedicated his life to human rights. He taught me the power of words and that music can be used to heal and educate people.
I've dated a few musicians in my life, and it's kind of always been that way for me. You unite through creativity and share that process and more together.
My foundation is jazz. I do all the things jazz musicians do.
I came up at a time in the late '60s, early '70s where music was without boundaries. You'd go into a music store, and the music was in alphabetical order. I hadn't heard of that word 'genre.'
Each project that you do is something you believe in for that moment in time.
I had really great art classes. Really great art teachers. Arts played a very important role in having a place to express yourself uniquely.
Some people think that all you do is record, and it's not the case. You take on other projects as well, and you have to live a little bit because it inspires your work.
The music industry is changing. You only hear a sprinkling of big names, but there are a lot of really wonderful young musicians with great voices and lyrical content who have refined their sound. They're up in here, so don't think they're not. There's this wealth of talent below the surface that's ready to explode.
I knew what the story behind 'Dreams' was. It was about Stevie Knicks' relationship. But when I sing it, it's about sharing some sage advice with somebody.
I like coming home and sharing things I've tasted or seen.
The way I look at it, people pay me to travel. Once we get to the stage, that part is easy.
I really enjoy going out with my jazz group. That's something that I don't ever want to stop doing.
I don't like a lot of monitors on stage. I like the real raw sound of the open piano.
