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In the early days of jazz, it was ensemble music: everybody playing all together. Nobody really stood out.

People like Art Blakey and Buddy Rich, you look at them playing music, and it's just like looking at a heavy metal drummer. I mean, they're playing with the same amount of ferocity. It's not to say all jazz is like that.

I've been a massive obsessive about jazz singers all my life.

It's true I've always been attracted to the jazz band in an orchestral way, rather than a band way.

I don't feel like that many musicians are competitive with each other.

The lion's share of what I hear right now are people who, intentional or accidental, have avoided all jazz prior to 1960. And all the musicians who were successful in the '60s spent their entire lives, prior to 1960, listening to all the musicians these people avoid.

I can imagine an utter hatred for the jazz avant-garde.

It's a weird thing where, especially in jazz, you have to totally mention cutting sessions and people one-upping each other and people being super, super tough on each other. And out of it emerge these genius musicians.

I've been around jazz and jazz musicians most of my life.

I do find modern jazz quite tricky.