Biography

[on the reason for a decline in the influence of jazz] Super-capitalism is one thing. The marketing or exploitation of younger people, of their sexuality. You can also point to technology where people are enamored with all the things you can do, but not the actual content. You can get a cheap burger at Burger King or Macdonald's; it might taste good but you're not concerned about the quality of the food. You're in and out, it's convenient. Thats' the same thing with art. People want to be entertained. They don't want to have a deep, visceral experience.

[on performing with Hope Boylin, principal performer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater] I've always had an affinity for dancers, especially as a drummer. I've always played for dancers: Congolese, Senegalese, tap-dancers, modern dancers. So it was very natural to work with him. I wrote music around choreography as opposed to them choreographing to my music. The compositions were inspired by the movement.