Cassandra Wilson

There was a train that would come by our house every night, and I'd hear the whistle blow. That is the sweetest memory I have.

Miles Davis was a master. In every phase of his career, he understood that this music was a tribute to the African muse.

I'm always looking for ways to develop as an artist, especially as a jazz artist-to find different ways of testing my voice.

Being black, I'm involved in the reparations movement. It's focused toward the African-American audience. We could begin to heal.

Everything I do is collaborative. It's just my way. I'm really very interested in how the other musicians perceive the song.

I was never interested in singing in the church choir or in school. I was more interested in becoming a musician.

My grandmother sang, too, and she was really loud. It was this wild kind of singing. I count her among my influences.