Kurt Elling

Why limit yourself to one discipline or field of study?

I remember seeing Tony Bennett on television. He was the only guy in the orchestra who was wearing a white tux, and I thought, 'That would be good. To be the only man on stage in a white jacket.'

Listening to something without being present is different from being there in the flesh.

I was very lucky that more experienced musicians allowed me to caterwaul until I figured out what it was really about.

A lot of people are put off by the idea of scat singing. Either that or it's something to be made fun of.

The singer is always an ambassador of music.

Each of the CDs prior to 'Flirting With Twilight' were more like roller-coaster rides.

Out in L.A., things relax even further than they do in Chicago. There's such a looseness to it, and there's a potentially refreshing advantage to that.

As improvisers, we're acting as composers in front of people.

Romance is one of the things that most countries share, and I've noticed how different communities have their own ways of singing about love and heartbreak.

I try to sleep as much as I can. I drink a lot of water. I practice consistently and just try to be ready for the gig.

That's the thing: There are so many art songs in jazz. It's a much more rich experience for the singer than people think.