When I got to Paris, it was a different world. French radio-another universe from U.S. radio. I found music that could sustain me. I found jazz and other music that I could call mine.

Weary Blues.

It's wonderful to work with someone with mentor status.

It's great to have other people's help. Then the music gets heard. There's a lot more commercial support for that now.

Things changed so quickly. The Atlantic jazz department just went from under us.

I think I was probably an early teenager when I discovered Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and a bunch of people that are on a long list of artists. They were important to me, especially as an early adolescent.