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

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.

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?

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

Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can plan weird; that's easy. What's hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.

Jazz is the language of the emotions.

Making the complicated simple is true creativity.