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I don't really have any people in my life who aren't gypsies.

Every June, Gypsies come in caravans from all over Europe to honor Django Reinhardt at a festival in Samois-sur-Seine. When I was little, I started hanging out with them. They fascinated me - they really, literally, live in the moment. They take every day as if it's their last.

My mother comes from the Dominican Republic, so I have the Latin side in me, and I grew up with Gypsies. But I like any kind of music as long as it's good music.

Negro music and culture are intrinsically improvisational, existential. Nothing is sacred. After a decade, a musical idea, no matter how innovative, is threatened.

I am so romantic about Gypsies. They're not allowed to do anything until they get married. So they all get married really young, at sixteen.

With human beings it could be argued that all music-making is, in essence, grounded in improvisation.

My family is basically Gypsies - for real.

The Quakers don't believe in music or art; they think it's a vanity.

For too long, musicians have been the greatest enemy of music. Their lack of desire to proselytize is a kind of betrayal.

The apparatus has to serve our improbability and improvisation. Being good and playing the songs is not enough.