I think right now is a very rich period in jazz music--in fact, in music overall. Boundaries between different styles are breaking down, and that is a good thing. Jazz players work with rock and rollers, various international musics combine with jazz, and even young players of hip-hop and alternative music are finding ways to incorporate jazz.

Unfortunately, some of the best jazz never reaches the masses. Jazz radio is virtually non-existent in many regions. So-called "smooth jazz" played by Kenny G and others isn't really jazz at all, since it doesn't include much of jazz's two essentials: swing and improvisation. Also, good live jazz is not nearly as available as it was during the '40s and '50s, unless you live in New York City. Many other large cities don't have a single good jazz club. One plus, though, is that jazz to a large extent has moved out of clubs and into concert halls. Although the atmosphere can be stuffy and formal, it also elevates this great American Classic Music to appropriate status.

I am very excited about the present array of jazz players who are making vital music, from youngsters to legends. On the young end, you've got James Carter, Chris Potter, Jacky Terrasson, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, and all sorts of other promising talents. Meanwhile, we are lucky to still have several living heroes from jazz's early years, many of whom are still making great music: saxophonists Benny Carter and James Moody, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Elvin Jones...and on and on.

I think the future looks bright. With the advent of the Internet and inexpensive digital recording, musicians of all sorts are now able to record and distribute their music, even if they don't land the big recording contract. It is already possible to create your own CDs from music available on the 'Net. The re-issue of great vintage jazz on CD will probably keep going on strong--labels like Blue Note, Verve, Fantasy, GRP/Impulse, and others have huge catalogs of readily available music, and if you can't find something at your local music store, you can get it within a couple days by ordering on the Internet.

Sometimes I get depressed by how much great jazz is available now. I could easily walk into a good music store and spend $5,000 or $6,000 on CDs in about an hour.