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When I was first going out to funky events, it was a lovely kind of music to dance to - it had such a nice vibe.

I fell in love with funk music through my father - Funkadelic - as well as soul and classical early on.

Funk, I don't think I have anything to do with funk. I've never considered myself funky.

As time passed on, got to hear some players who were straight up funky, not just jazz. Nat Adderley, for instance - he's a funky trumpet player, so he was my man.

I was totally into jazz in my teens.

I listened to the radio, so I was influenced by everyone from Michael Jackson to Milli Vanilli. But thankfully my dad had a collection of Cat Stevens albums while my mom was listening to jazz.

I couldn't get my album played over the so-called smooth jazz stations. Jazz stations would not play it. You don't always know who you're making that soul connection with.

I'm not going to play funk licks on a jazz album. That makes no sense.

When I was coming up, a lot of serious jazz players couldn't stand funk.

I've always gravitated towards the beats, obviously. And when I was growing up, I always loved funk music or even - dare I say it - disco.