EVENT: Anderson plays Dimitriou's Jazz Alley with a nine-piece band Tues-Sun Dec 26-31.

You went to Garfield, right?

"Yes, and two of my kids went to Garfield, so the tradition goes on. And now a couple of my grandkids."

But you're from Texas?

"Yes, I'm originally from Houston, Texas. And after Garfield, I went on the road with the Johnny Otis Big Band.... Johnny Otis was out of California, and it was a tour for the original Ink Spots. In those days they had a complete package with dancers, comedians, singers, a big band--and the Ink Spots were the headliners."

How is Seattle for jazz vocalists?

"I think Seattle is great for music, period. It could be better; I hear a lot of musicians say they don't get paid like they think they should, and I agree with them. But it isn't just a local thing. You have to go away, you have to leave home and prove yourself before you can come home and be a success. You can't just be a success at home. Because if anything worthwhile is happening, you're going to outgrow home--you know, they're going to get sick of you [laughs]. So you need to go someplace else and pay your dues and be approved by other people before people at home accept you."

Are you excited by any contemporary vocalists?

"I like all kinds of music. But if it's negative, I pass it. When it's positive and real, I like it. But music changes with the times and is a vehicle for people to express what's going on at the time. Some stays the same; the more grounded things, jazz, some pop... there are some forms of music that will always be around as new things are coming along the scene."

Jazz to me is like classical music in that way.

"It takes as much dedication as classical music to play or to perform. I think that's why a lot of people don't understand it. Because you really have to listen to jazz in order to really appreciate it."