Just because I'm playing jazz I don't forget about me. I play or write me, the way I feel, through jazz, or whatever.

Making the complicated simple is true creativity.

I was always doing revolutionary things, things that would alert people, so they would stop being so subservient.

Making the simple complicated is commonplace.

Our nights didn't begin until after noon. Because in the old days, you'd start Birdland at 8:30 or 9 pm and play until 4 in the morning. Then you'd go out to the corner and talk to a couple of musicians - I used to talk to Oscar Pettiford a whole lot - you'd stand there till 7, 8 or 9, or else go down to the jam session at Minton's.

My music is evidence of my souls will to live.

Bach is how buildings got taller. It's how we got to the moon.