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.

If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are going well, I hate to quit. And then I'll work 'till exhausted.

Kinship doesn't come from skin color. It's in your soul and your mind.

You have to be taught to hate.

I wasn't allowed to play in some universities in the United States and out of twenty-five concerts, twenty-three were canceled unless I would substitute my black bass player for my old white bass player, which I wouldn't do.

I have more energy at the end than I do at the beginning. You can be so beat up that you can scarcely walk on stage but when you get to the piano the excitement kicks in, you forget about being tired.

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