You had many jazz musicians who lived in the United States, who had a hard time being accepted over here and had to play in sort of these inferior type dives.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
So I went into jazz and performed in jazz clubs all over the country.
Many jazz artists go to L.A. seeking a more comfortable life and then they really stop playing.
I was exposed to jazz early on.
I'm a jazz musician, and I really wanted to not miss an opportunity to have the full connection to jazz.
I have to plead basic ignorance of most new jazz artists here.
We don't live in a jazz world, unfortunately. I think if I had lived in a jazz world, I would have done OK. I'm not sure I would have done great. I'm a lover of jazz music, so I would have been happy, don't get me wrong. I go to jazz concerts like the biggest jazz fan in world. The drag is that I don't play jazz for a living.
I've been around jazz and jazz musicians most of my life.
I have seen great jazz musicians die obscure and drinking themselves to death and not really being able to get any work and working in small, funky jazz clubs.
I cut myself off from the mainstream of jazz. It stood me in good stead later on, as a musician.
Everybody in all countries tries to play jazz.