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SW: If you were talking to someone who had never before heard of the genre of music (jazz), how would you describe it to him or her?

CM: Well, I would say that it’s spontaneous, and… a lot of times associated with a certain swing feel- it’s got kind of an African influence, rhythmic feel to it, that it’s highly syncopated. And an aural tradition, as well. All music is that way, but I think that after a long time we just assume that if we read a piece by Beethoven that we’re playing what he had in mind- that may not be true at all. Jazz that’s written down definitely needs to be heard and understood in the language and the tradition to perform it correctly. If you were describing it to somebody… well, that’s silly, you’d play it for them. Say, “Here’s what it sounds like”. I think that’s all you can do.

SW: If you could say anything to the young aspiring musicians of today, what would you say?

CM: Well, don’t take my gigs . Uh, well, I think the most important thing you can do is be honest, you know, and don’t get sidetracked ideas and trends associated with jazz- drug culture, uh, anything, addictions. But be focused on learning the reality of the music and what you can create with it- you know, just be honest and just listen to it. If you don’t listen to it, well, then you know, there’s a problem.

SW: What was your favorite performance both to do and to hear?

CM: Oh, that’s tough. Well, there are definitely times when you’re improvising that you’re just kind of in the zone, you know. And it kind of like has nothing to do with your level, because I’ve been at the zone at many different levels of ability. You kind of know when you remember something; when a performance sticks out, that it was just like, “I’m doing the right thing, this is what I want to do.” And I remember a series of performances that I did when I was probably twenty-two in England. I played with a wind ensemble that performed at this hall in Manchester- a very great concert hall. You know, something about knowing that nobody knew you there freed me up to just go for it entirely. So I had this incredible band concert, and then later some of us from the band played a jazz combo that did the reception afterwards. And this was like the most wonderful music night I think I’ve ever had. And I know I’ve had other great moments, but it really kind of sticks out to me because I just think about it occasionally; I’ll be like, “oh that was cool.” I even think about some of the things I played in my jazz solos, and it was just total freedom. There was a lot limiting me as far as what I was able to do, but like the freedom with which I played what I could do was, uh, yeah, it was a blast; it was fun. But then, you know, there’s also the listening, the concerts I’ve listened to that have been great. The first jazz concert I ever went to was kind of an obscure… well,