It's just music. It's trying to play clean and looking for the pretty notes. The beat in a bop band is with the music, against it, behind it. It pushes it. It helps it. Help is the big thing. It has no continuity of beat, no steady chug-chug. Jazz has, and that's why bop is more flexible.

Don't play the saxophone. Let it play you.

You've got to learn your instrument.

Don't be afraid, just play the music.

I can play all I know in eight bars.

Some guys said 'Here's bop!' Wham! They said, 'Here's something we can make money on!' Wham! 'Here's a comedian!' Wham! Here's a guy who talks funny talk!'

Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play.