If I do a piece in my living room, if I practice it - and I have the tapes to prove this - it's not going to be as good as doing the same piece in front of an audience.

I'm a very, very stubborn man.

When you're working in front of an audience, you have incentive to excel.

I cut myself off from the mainstream of jazz. It stood me in good stead later on, as a musician.

Sometimes you have to forget your principles and do what’s right.

I think I have more in common with a carpenter than you might think. We're putting things together.

You can't be afraid of failure and you can't be afraid of success, because either one gets in the way of your work.