1- Anything you’d rather be doing other than playing music?
HELPING PEOPLE IN MORE CONCRETE WAYS THAN I DO THROUGH MUSIC, WHICH I BELIEVE DOES HAS A ROLE IN RAISING THE SPIRIT AND CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE LISTENER. BUT I’M TALKING HANDS ON ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN NEED, ESPECIALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

2- Do you think playing, appreciating jazz requires intelligence?
APPRECIATING JAZZ, AS IN ALL GREAT ART INITIALLY REQUIRES AN OPEN SOUL TO BE OPEN TO THE POSITIVE WISDOM BEING REPRESENTED THROUGH THE MUSIC. OF COURSE, TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF ANY ART FORM MEANS BEING EDUCATED AS TO WHAT TO NOTICE AND HOW TO APPRECIATE, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE SPIRIT.

3- What do you know today that you didn’t know 20 years ago?
MUSICALLY I HAVE ADVANCED OF COURSE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT IS HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE ON ALL LEVELS, FROM CHECKING IN AT AN AIRPORT TO  A NEW STUDENT JUST BEGINNING THE ARTISTIC JOURNEY.

4- What do you struggle with in your creative life?
CONSISTENCY AS AN ARTIST (IMPROVISER) AND FINDING TIME TO DO WHAT I NEED AND WANT TO DO FOR CONTINUED  GROWTH. TIME IS THE ENEMY!!

5- A life in music, more perspiration or inspiration?
INSPIRATION AND CURIOSITY HAVE TO BE PRESENT FOR ANY ARTIST TO GROW, BUT “PERSPIRATION” AS IN ATTENDING TO ALL THE BUSINESS IN ORDER TO GET YOUR ART OUT TO THE WORLD TAKES UP MUCH OF MY TIME.

6- What’s your current impression of jazz education?
JAZZ EDUCATION IS A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD….WHAT CAN BE MORE POSITIVE THAN INSTILLING A LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THIS GREAT MUSIC TO SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS? ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PRACTICAL REALITIES OF HAVING A LIFE AS AN ARTIST ARE DAUNTING IN THIS PERIOD OF HISTORY AND WE KEEP TURNING OUT MORE YOUNG FOLKS WITH LESS OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO MATURE AS ARTISTS AND HUMAN BEINGS.

7-Say a few words about the jazz education organization you founded and lead?
TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION I BEGAN THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF JAZZ (IASJ) IN 1989 WITH AT PRESENT MEMBERSHIP FROM NEARLY 40 COUNTRIES. OUR MAIN ACTIVITY BESIDES ONGOING NETWORKING BETWEEN MEMBERS IS A YEARLY CONFERENCE IN A DIFFERENT HOST CITY AROUND THE WORLD (2015 IN LISBON; 2016 AT BERKLEE COLLEGE IN BOSTON). THIS HAS BEEN MY MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD BESIDES MY FAMILY.

8- If there’s an afterlife, one piece of music you heard here that you’ll remember there?
“SKETCHES OF SPAIN” BY MILES AND GIL REMAINS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PIECE OF MUSIC.

9- Your favorite or most important recording of yours to you?
“THE LONELINESS OF A LONG DISTANCE RUNNER”-SOLO SOPRANO-IS MY MOST PERSONAL RECORDING (1986).

10- What are a few pieces of music that made you the person or musician you are today?
COLTRANE’S “CRESCENT”  “SKETCHES OF SPAIN” BARTOK STRING QUARTETS (SLOW MOVEMENTS); INDIAN FLAUTIST PANALLAL GHOSH