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" One doesn't have to scat to be a jazz singer. "

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" Each of the CDs prior to 'Flirting With Twilight' were more like roller-coaster rides. "

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Surround Yourself

" I don't want to take it easy. "

" It's a lovely thing to have people in any circumstance appreciate your work. "

" I think of jazz as being homage through innovation. Don't quote that as a definition, but it comes pretty close. "

" A lot of people are put off by the idea of scat singing. Either that or it's something to be made fun of. "

" It's a beautiful thing to have time in the world, as a singer and as a musician, to make friends with people of the musical caliber of a Tommy Smith, an Arturo Sandoval, a Richard Galliano, a Till Broenner. "

" I haven't been afraid of John Coltrane or Miles Davis or Bill Evans or Wayne Shorter or Herbie Hancock. Why would I be afraid of the Beatles? "

" I'd been studying philosophy at the University of Chicago. I hadn't been doing well, because I was sitting in with jazz musicians at night - it's hard to read Heidegger, but it's especially hard if you're half asleep. "

" My intellect was quickened at divinity school, and my abilities to discern were strengthened, and that's always valuable. "

" A lot of the commercial world wants to bank in on the cachet that jazz brings. "

" I think my intention was there, and my love for the music was apparent. And there are very few singers who get up and desire to take the kinds of risks that jazz musicians routinely need to be taking. "

" I've worked with a number of big bands, but there's nothing in life like the Basie band. "

" I'm one of the culprits who keeps turning stuff around, shaking up original tunes and trying to stand the canon on its ear. But sometimes, you just need to sing the song. "