John Coltrane is my favorite jazz musician and his 4-CD box set, Live at the Village Vanguard, is incredible. It captures the power of his music and band. It's very inspirational music, in my opinion. It sounds simple, easy and familiar, but at the same time jazz is probably the most challenging music to play, and I think that's why you have to respect it. There is something about jazz that impresses me every time I listen to it.
Jazz can be super mellow and relaxing, or it can be ultra-hyper and psychedelic.
I am hoping that my daughter, Maya Lucia, takes up an interest in music like me and maybe does something I could never do, like play piano in a really good jazz quartet. We listen to lots of jazz at home, and when Maya was in utero we played lots of jazz in the house in hopes she would come out swinging. Artist Brian Cote poses with some of his paintings at the Dunlap Gallery on Brod Street. I would have to say that Dave Brubeck is an excellent choice as a representative of jazz perfection. His music is innovative, intelligent and timeless.