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

Every ‘mistake’ is an opportunity in jazz.

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 very broad definition.

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 to think about the future, or the past.

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

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 sleeping in strange hotels.

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

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

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 clearly.

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

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 to reflect on what made jazz so special.

How can I grieve what is still in motion?" I ask her. "Shoes are still dropping all over the place. I´m not kidding, " I say. "It´s Normandy out there.

Children must be taught that they are worth being heard, being saved and being loved.

our hearts break, and take us out of relationships that are too painful for us

Education does not solve any problem but it gives you the ability to solve the problem.

I don't want something special. I want something beautifully plain.

Do you ever find yourself bursting into a sort of lunatic laughter at the sheer prettiness of things?

To mention it was to ask a favor and that as you were too generous, and as for her to ask was always to have, she wouldn't

The first time I heard a Billie Holiday record, I thought, 'What's so great about Billie Holiday?'

Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.

It is important to understand that if you do fall, it's important for you to get right back up again.