I have a fondness for jazz, particularly for jazz singers, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald all the way through the Sinatra era.

My mother used to play nothing but Billie Holiday.

I'm one of those rare birds that's in the Clearwater Jazz Holiday hall of fame, ... It's a great tradition. It's been great to watch it morph and grow.

I listened to Billie Holiday a lot in order to learn to sing. She remains one of the extraordinary jazz singers. But my intent is to become my own voice, to be able to interpret these songs in my own way.

We're not that far apart. Our goal is to get this completed prior to the winter holiday break.

My great hero is Billie Holiday, and I've always wanted to do an album of standards with a piano-led quartet.