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.

Life has many changes. Tomorrow it may rain, and it's supposed to be sunshine, 'cause it's summertime. But God's got a funny soul, he plays like Charlie Parker.

Jazz music is a language of the emotions.

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

I'm trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it's difficult is because I'm changing all the time.

If Charlie Parker were a Gunslinger, There'd be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats

Everything I do is Mingus.