If I told you all the people that have secretly told me I've influenced them, you'd never believe it, and you'll never see it in print, either.

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

Every individual should be expressing themselves, whether a politician or a minister or a policeman.

You could play probably a span of 50 years of me playing St. Louis Blues, and most of the time it will be different every time.

There are a lot of people on the lowest rung of Jacob's Ladder, and we must somehow reach down, give them a hand, and make them want to climb. A little really good music never hurt anyone. And when people are given good music they can grow spiritually and even discover they like it.

After the Second World War, I returned to California to study composition with Darius Milhaud, who wrote wonderful works like 'Le Boeuf sur le Toit' and 'La Cretion du Monde.' I especially enjoy his work for two pianos, 'Scaramouche.

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.