It's not easy to play in a framework that requires simplicity and to tastefully find ways to interject the kind of freedom that we have in playing jazz.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
For me, jazz offers so much freedom in the way the music can be interpreted. It's natural to me. It's where I feel most free.
I think that's what I love about jazz is that you can do what you want, and you're allowed to mess up.
I do find modern jazz quite tricky.
Many people don't understand how disciplined you have to be to play jazz... And that is really the idea of democracy - freedom within the Constitution or discipline. You don't just get out there and do anything you want.
Jazz can be a blank canvas full of possibilities.
I always say that the problem with jazz accessibility is not the content of the music, it's people's ability to access it.
The point of jazz is, you do something and then you go on.
One of the most important functions of jazz has been to encourage a hope for freedom, for people living in situations of intolerance or struggle.
Jazz is like wine. When it is new, it is only for the experts, but when it gets older, everybody wants it.
There's so much spirit of integration and democracy in jazz.