They're not particular whether you're playing a flat 5th or a ruptured 129th as long as they can dance.

Bop is at the end of the road. Now everybody wants dance music.

Mutual respect is so important because as soon as it disappears in relations between you and the next person, there's trouble.

I'd like to play for you one of my compositions, my only composition.

I was blessed that I got married early and had a good wife. That sort of kept me straight. Probably I would have been like Charlie Parker, you know, involved in drugs or alcohol or something like that if I hadn't had this stability.

When I grow up I want to be just like Benny Carter!

Jazz will be the classical music of the future.