Anybody can make the simple complecated. Creativity is making the complecated simple.

Tastes are created by the business interests. How else can you explain the popularity of Al Hirt?

I'm too busy playing. When I'm playing I don't pay attention to who's listening. When I was listening I listened to symphony orchestras, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Stravinsky. You don't listen to one instrument; you listen to music.

It (jazz) isn't like it used to be. The guys aren't together. They're all separated. Individuals now. Bird was a symbol. It was a clique, a clique of people. Who all believed in one thing: gettin' high. And playin'.

In my music, I'm trying to play the truth of what I am.

Thelonius Monk went over to Bird and Bud Powell and said, 'I told you guys to act crazy, but I didn't tell you to fall in love with the act. You're really crazy now.'

If someone has been escaping reality, I don't expect him to dig my music.