When it comes to musical categories, I'm a lumper. I like to mix things up, and think that most of the more appealing musical developments in history resulted from combining forms, often over the objections of the purists. In creative endeavors, synthesis is what it's all about.

When it comes to playing and/or performing, however, I'm probably more of a splitter (also known as an antisocial son of a bitch). I don't generally enjoy large jams (more than three or four musicians) with no clear focus, and I don't invite others to layer their playing on top of mine without a clear concept tying the individual contributions into a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. And in performance, there's an invisible line on the floor in front of me (defined by the lip of the stage when there is one, or else by the placement of the monitors, etc.) that audience members may only cross at their peril.