I never heard my music played the way I heard it in my head.

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.

I never heard my music played the way I heard it in my head.

I've got a feeling that if it's so easy for you - the struggle and the initiative are not as strong as they are for a person who has to struggle and therefore has more to say.

Jazz is the language of the emotions.

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.

Most of the soloists at Birdland had to wait for Parker's next record in order to find out what to play next. What will they do now?