How does life in Paris compare to that of Northern California?
JM: They are totally different, which is fine since that’s what I was hoping for. Practically speaking, I lived in a smaller space with less stuff. At the same time, the quality of life is comparable in terms of the richness of both cultures. I love both places. MW: Specifically, how does the jazz scene in Paris compare to that of Northern California? JM: Tough question. Let me put it this way: the world is so small that a person is influenced by outside factors no matter where they live. This is especially true for artists. They just have to listen and be open to new ideas. But jazz came from America. You’ve got to keep up with what’s happening there in order to stay on the cutting edge. At the same time, world-music with influences from Africa, Eastern cultures, etc. are in the mix too. So in short, when you talk about musical comparisons, it’s complicated. It’s probably easier to discuss audience comparisons. I find American audiences much more vocal in expressing their likes and di
