“We’re part of the British jazz scene, but we don’t play London jazz,” says Knats bassist Stan Woodward. “We play Newcastle jazz.”

“I am a musician born and raised in this country with the sound of the seas and landscapes that I carry with me,” says Giannouli of her Greek upbringing.

“It’s really nice to have some kind of vision and feel like it has come to life,” says Vasandani.

“At the end of the day, once you’ve run out of differences, we’re left with similarities,” Collier says. “Cultural differences are mitigated through 12 notes.”

“I’m certainly influenced by Geri Allen,” said Iverson, during a live Blindfold Test at the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival.

“In terms of what a singer is capable of making you feel, she is as good as it gets,” Cavassa said of Mahalia Jackson during a live Blindfold Test with DB’s Frank Alkyer.

“I love the fact that when some people think about my music they think of it as joyous, but there is darkness inside,” Anat Cohen says. “We are complex humans.”

“Why, being a classically trained musician, do I have to only play the obvious themes?” asks Kristin Lee.

“This music is really about honoring my forebearers and expressing gratitude to my parents and my grandparents,” Kono says about Voyages.

“Not in a million years, man,” said saxophonist Jeff Coffin about imagining if he’d be inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame. He was last year.