I’m beginning to understand myself. But it would have been great to be able to understand myself when I was 20 rather than when I was 82.

I knew even if I'm a cowboy, I'm going to be involved in jazz in some way.

The worst thing about the life of a jazz musician on the road is getting to the gig. Once you're there and playing, it's marvelous.

Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, and many other great jazz musicians objected to their music being called jazz. While the outside world may want to put a label on it, those who create it think of it just as music, and tend not to classify it.

I don't think you can separate a person's "style" and his persona. If you're writing or improvising honestly, you will inevitably reflect who you are.

I never wanted this kind of life that Im still living.

When I was first aware that I couldn't read music I didn't know I couldn't read because I could play the music that was in front of me.