Colleen Kitchen

I love jazz because it is not boring. I love music where improvisation is the name of the game. I hate trying to slavishly duplicate someone else's version just because they're famous. I'd rather absorb and internalize their ideas and have them come out in my own voice. I love having a conversation with the other musicians. I love having a huge repertoire that I can play, instead of a few "perfect" concertos, and I love the emotional, rather than cerebral, aspect of this music, yet without resorting to cliche'd emotional gimmicks. I love being with people who are dedicated to the craft, and I love striving for the virtuosity necessary to perform this music as it deserves.