I've been informed by both sides, jazz, western music, Asian music, African music, all sides, because I've been interested in the sound of the universe, and that sound is without limit.

You know, face painting in non-Western cultures is a sign of collectivism, is a sign of one representing the community, it's not unique at all.

The Vision Festival was packed every night, always has been for the four years it's been happening.

So okay, I accepted, and I realized while working for that concert that I'd been missing something very important and vital to me, and that something was music.

Well, actually, I don't consider myself a jazz legend or anything.

People doing the kind of sound research that I'm interested in still have a difficult time.

People call to keep me abreast of what's going on.

It took me a long time to reach the decision to retire, actually, from the Art Ensemble. But it seemed more important to me to share the vitality of Aikido and the vitality of Zen training with people, even though it would be a smaller number of people, it seemed to give them something that could last and improve their lives.