Q: What is your role as artistic director?

A: To put together programs of great music by great artists in a way that reaches a broad audience.

Q: Who are you most excited about for Spring Season?

A: Saxophonist Sonny Rollins is one of my top influences. So, of course, that's a highlight for me.

Q: How did growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area affect your musical sensibility?

A: It exposed me to all different kinds of music—everything from jazz and funk to AC/DC—without too much emphasis on what style it was. And that gave me a broad-based approach to music.

Q: Any favorite jazz spots out West?

A: Yoshi's in Oakland and Jazz Alley in Seattle.

Q: Ever think about going back and getting that law degree?

A: Less and less. I feel very fortunate that what I do is both a passion and a profession.

Q: How did you get to be so cool?

A: It's all smoke and mirrors. Maybe it's the saxophone—it can make you look cool. I certainly didn't feel like the cool kid when I was in school.