My favorite composers tend to be great improvisers as well as great players. It doesn't matter whether they're contemporary or classical. - Joanna MacGregor

Being a specialist is a 20th century thing, and now rather old fashioned as an idea. I realised early on that you can be the kind of superstar who jets around playing the same programmes all over the world, or you can be the sort of musician who perhaps can be a little influential.

In a lot of classical playing there isn't much expressiveness: I don't hear a voice in the playing. What I really admire about jazz musicians is that they develop a sound early on and it's unique to them. Classical players are screened from that by always playing other people's notes.

Once you start cancelling, there's always something which is not quite right.