My foundation is jazz. I do all the things jazz musicians do.

I've dated a few musicians in my life, and it's kind of always been that way for me. You unite through creativity and share that process and more together.

I had a few celebrity crushes when I was growing up, including Eddie Kendricks from the Temptations. And I loved Marvin Gaye - I thought he was everything and instantly fell for his voice.

There is a certain kind of fire that happens when you fall in love with a musician. I guess you understand one another because you're connected by a creative desire.

Now, jazz institutions are more readily available for young people, but for me, the institutions were the bands that I was in. When I worked with Clark Terry, that was the beginning of school for me, and Harry Belafonte and Sergio Mendes, they were all my universities.

I feel proud of my journey. I wouldn't change it.

I've always had really wonderful people around me. But early on, I remember I would walk into a session or go do something with some musicians, and they viewed me, basically, as their chick singer.

I have a sketch of an idea and I never really talk about: perhaps do another jazz record, but with other elements involved.

I'm always inspired to push forward.

Early on, I started with classical voice and had that wonderful foundation. For where I wanted to go at that time, there were no teachers to teach it, so I came up with all kinds of different ways to develop the sound of my voice.

In high school, we had a really great jazz program that I finally was able to be a part of. They only wanted instrumentalists; they didn't want any singers. But I made my way in, and I remember the conductor of the band wrote a lot of arrangements and asked me what I wanted to sing.

I remember my grandmother used to always say, 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket.' But when I realized that music was inside of me, I decided I'm putting all my eggs in one basket.

My junior high school teacher, Bennie Williams, was really more than a music teacher. She taught us poetry. She helped us put on school shows. She did all these kinds of things to help us stand in each other's shoes, and it was a really powerful time. That's when I discovered that I could sing.

The thing that I tell young people is everybody is unique in their approach to the music, and you have to protect that.

My records are one thing. My live performances are something totally different because they're very improvised performances.

I think people have come to know that I am not comfortable in a box, you know, and that I love music.

When I moved to Los Angeles, right away I met all kinds of musicians.

Art is a direct reflection of the life you live. What you experience comes out in your work.

I think an artist who has it in their heart to do or say something, they'll say it. It's not something that's mandatory, but it will come out.

People think jazz music is all standards and the Great American Songbook. But it's really about the sensibility, the feel you bring to the music.

A lot of young people want to become jazz singers, but there are not more jam sessions like there used to be. I just want to have the opportunity to be able to bring that to some young people.

I'm a chameleon. When you put me in certain soils, musically speaking, I will be in that place.

Oh my gosh, I love Jon Hendricks.

Being from Colorado is, to me, very, very special. I'm just very thankful to be here. I'm also thankful to be a part of the history of this state.