How did you begin with improvised music? i learned to play by ear and was mainly self -taught until i was in junior high. so early on i pretty much just " made it up" from the get go and today i am still just "making it up". i was always drawn to the thrill of people making a sound together that is improvised and i am even more excited about that now as i get older!

Do you consider yourself a jazz musician? yes, i feel that jazz is the best musical "label" that best exemplifies the openess and willingness to explore that i love. also, jazz is associated with "swing" and i absolutely adore that beat!

Playing drums, does it mean a lot of studies or is it just perfecting a natural skill? I believe it is studies that allow what is potentially present to emerge. we all have skills that come more naturally and others that develop through practice and study. natural ability can get you in the door but practice helps you find the rooms in the house.

Your music has a high sense of humour. Any comments? I am a romantic person. i feel that humor is a vital part of that. if you cannot laugh, you cannot cry. music is sound with emotion, humor is an emotion we all need to live.

Is your “income” more “substantiated” by your concerts in Europe or by your work in clubs and concerts in the USA? i believe both. i love playing wherever there are smiling folks ready for some sonic love! my income comes mostly from my successful garden seed catalog business.....just kidding!

What is your opinion on the Portuguese public? Are the Portuguese jazz “connoisseurs”? portuguese folks are soulful with a desire to be moved. i get nervous around connoisseurs. this music is folk music, music for the people. often the connosseurs ears become polluted by the sound they want to hear in there head. i love people to have a good time. laugh, cry, be startled, soothed or agitated, love some of it, hate some it, what ever as long as they allow themselves to experience it. the beautiful people of portugal allow themselves to experience. amen! woo hoo!!! i love portugal!!

 Your projects for 2004 new arts and crafts cd will come out in the fall......amazing. calling it WAKE UP TO WHAT'S HAPPENIN'! tours with matt wilson quartet, arts and crafts, dewey redman, denny zeitlin, billl mays trio and with charlie hadens's liberation music orchestra ( and recording!) recording in april w/ andrew hill! great cds coming with piano trios of denny zeitlin, frank kimbrough,helio alves. trumpeters ron horton and john mcneil. the great singer/ pianist dena derose. write a funny book on improvising for the drums. it is going to be a fun year. oh yeah, i want to take better care of my lawn! returning to portugal for music, fun, food, wine and fellowship!

Have you listened to 'all' the drummers from “Baby” Dodds to Matt Wilson? i have tried. always a surprise out there.....always! heard some radio checks of miles davis birth of the cool band the other day. some very hip max roach i had never heard. love anyone who sings to me! hearing great young players alll of the time. my kids are swinging too jose!

The 60.000 dollar question: will the future of jazz be a repetition in 2 areas - mainstream and the 90’s free? first, at this juncture, i'll take 60,000 euros. i hope that we just allow folks to do what is making them feel good. what gets them primed and opened for expression whether it is totally free, a hank mobley tune, messian, the beatles, dixieland...whatever opens up that person to be themselves!!!! if it is swing and it swings. hallelujah! it is free and allows the artist to discover, hallelujah! can't we play free while playing stardust? hallelujah! feeling like we have to follow trends is stifling. as i get older there is alot of music that gets me off. why can't i play it all. in one band or on one record? does it have to be a free record or a standards record? everyone, players and listeners, should LET themselves enjoy what ever sounds in them!

Do you know non-american drummers? Which ones do you prefer? wow many in europe: daniel humair, mark mondesir, roberto gatto,marilyn mazur, aldo romano, hans bennink, some amazing dudes from japan, brazil and australia. there are awesome drummers everywhere. EVERYWHERE! again, i am drawn to ones who sing to me.

After 1967 (death of John Coltrane) did jazz “stop”? Stagnate? Are there any innovations since that date? i feel like that it has not stopped. everyone puts down the 70's. man, there was great music brought to the world via the aacm and other great artists. i feel jazz sometimes is waiting for this prophet figure to emerge. during the wait numerous less "monumental" innovations are often overlooked. there are innovators who maybe never got the opportunity to spread their message. again, put pressure on people to innovate and you might as well tie them up. someone perhaps will be this figure we are looking for and will probably sneak right up on us. we could miss them if we are not careful!

Which is your main influence on drums? people that make a good sound and , as i have said , seem to sing on the instrument. also, people that can play a beat that makes you feel good. i like hearing melody in rhythm and rhythm in melody! well here we go: billy higgins, ed blackwell, max roach, elvin jones, frankie dunlop, billy hart, shelly manne, andrew cyrille, tony williams, mel lewis, jeff hamiton, sam woodyard, sonny payne, gene krupa, joe jones , philly joe, al foster, jim black, joey baron, i could go on for two hours!

All present day jazz musicians come from music schools as opposed to the musicians of the past. As a result, did this favour the evolution of jazz? i feel there are still folks coming from guys in the past also. i went to music school. BUT i did very advanced studies at the universities of redman, konitz, haden, hill, mcbee, dr. lonnie etc.... opportunites are still there to learn from more experience players. YOU HAVE TO PURSUE THEM AND BE SMART ENOUGH TO HEAR THEM! again the urge to get out there and "innovate" puts much pressure on the player. i find the wise older player want to give and get experience! i never want to stop gaining experience!

How many CDs are there in your discography and which ones do you prefer and why? i have done six for palmetto as a leader. co-led around five. in addition, i have been a sideman on close to 115 cds. i love so many for different reasons. i love humidity that came out in march 2003. i love some early cds by charlie kohlhase, either orchestra, curtis stigers latest, dena derose's cds i have done, bill mays, dewey's live in london, still evolved by ted nash, strange city by herbie nichols project, frank kimbroughs new trio cd is great, conference call on soul note, the duo cd with konitz on steeplechase, a new cd by fred hess w/ ron miles and ken filiano is very hip. you know i like them all because people have allowed me to part of their family and i appreciate that. i grew up dreaming to get to do this and i am! wow, is that cool or what!

Do you think that drums and cymbals will still exist in 2200? if we are still here jose, drums and cymbals will be here! obrigado jose and keep spreading the jazz love! obrigado portugal! i have felt so much love from your country i cannot express how grateful i am for the wonderful times. i look forward to returning soon!