I don't really see huge barriers between any styles of music. My definition of music is "organizing sound and silence into emotion," and that's a ver….

Every ‘mistake’ is an opportunity in jazz..

I grew in the inner city, listening to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, James Brown, The Commodores - lots of soul music..

Miles Davis is a major influence of mine in terms of the way that I am as a bandleader..

Being at home with my family always inspires me. I find it hard to be inspired when I'm on the move. I'm not creative when I'm jet-lagged and sleepin….

Ultimately, what we do as musicians, I think of us as a type of emotional engineer. We essential take these sound waves, this sound, and we organize ….

Italy has great food and Barcelona has great energy.

The bandstand is an incredible space. It is really a sacred space. One of the things that is really sacred about it is that you have no opportunity t….

If I play the melody, even if I play it in an abstract manner, it's instantly recognizable. Even when I was studying to be a classical percussionist,….

The way I look at music, what I'm interested in is not necessarily creativity - in many ways I think creativity is overrated, actually. What I think ….

One of the things I'm adamant about as a bandleader is not micromanaging. I'm an advocate for the concept of allowing everyone to be fully vested in ….

I think it all comes back to the individual. My instrument's just a pile of metal and wood! If you listen to the way I speak I have a lot of rhythm, ….

What happens when an art form becomes ambiguous, I think, is that the standards are lowered. You can say anything is jazz. So I think it's important ….

I love Amsterdam. The city is vibrant and alive. It's fresh and so open. It's definitely one of my favorite places..

I think when you look back at the different eras in jazz, what leads from one to another is never a melodic revolution, but a rhythmic revolution..

I taught myself to read music at a very young age, so when I started to take lessons in school, the teachers used to give me other instruments to kee….

I don't really see huge barriers between any styles of music..

If you listen to the way I speak, I have a lot of rhythm, use a lot of accents. When I'm playing my instrument, that concept comes through very clear….

It's about being here in the moment, accepting one another and allowing creativity to flow..

I listen to a lot of singers, because I find phrasing to be one of the most essential elements of playing..

I'm a spa person. Massages keep me relaxed, so I always try to make time for them when I tour..