"I think the challenges for me was to go into the studio with these incredible jazz players and come up to their level of excellence. That's always a challenge"

Rita Coolidge is describing the obstacle of working with experienced jazz artists in the studio. She acknowledges the trouble of needing to match their level of excellence, which is a challenging job for any musician. Coolidge is likely referring to the pressure of having to perform at a high level in order to stay up to date with the other artists. She is also most likely describing the challenge of needing to learn new techniques and designs in order to fit in with the other artists. Coolidge is most likely revealing her admiration for the jazz musicians she has worked with, and her regard for their level of ability and proficiency. She is likewise likely revealing her own determination to rise to the difficulty and prove her worth as a musician.