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.

Let my children have music! Let them hear live music.

Most customers, by the time the musicians reach the second set, are to some extent inebriated. They don't care what you play anyway.

I was born swinging and clapped my hands in church as a little boy, but I've grown up and I like to do things other than just swing. But blues can do more than just swing.

I always thought that no matter what kind of work people did, they should involve themselves totally with all the discrimination they ran into.

Making the simple complicated is commonplace.