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Charlie Parker is my greatest inspiration as a saxophone player - anything that involves him entails a large amount of respect.

I didn't know what the hell Charlie Parker was playing... I just liked the way he played.

I loved Art Tatum! And, through him, and other different jazz musicians, I actually found my technique.

At 14 and 15, I used to listen to Tito Puente, Dave Valentine and everything that was happening with American jazz. I love it.

I grew up with all these old jazz guys in the '70s in L.A., and they grew up idolizing Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Lester Young - all of these incredible musicians.

Charlie Christian played amplified guitar with Benny Goodman's quartet. He was the greatest guitar player that ever was. But he never looked up from the guitar. But I put a little dance to it. They appreciate seein' something along with hearin' something.

I was a B.I.G. fan. I like all of his stuff. I don't really have a favorite song. They all are good, and each brings different memories to me. And you can still listen to it to this day and it means something.

I was really small when jazz broke through in England and I can still remember sneaking off to the living room to listen to it on the radio - much to my parent's disapproval.

I had listened to Joe Turner. When they'd book Joe there, I'd play the blues behind him.