We loved one another, man. I mean all those stories about the rift ... there was no question of a rift between Charlie Parker and me.

I try to play the bare essence, to let everything be just what it's supposed to be in that particular spot...You have many things to pick from when you're playing, so you try to train yourself to pick out the best things that you know.

Kenny Burrell is the grand master of jazz guitar.

You can't steal a gift. Bird [Charlie Parker] gave the world his music, and if you can hear it you can have it.

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.

I try to play the bare essence, to let everything be just what it's supposed to be.

Learn to play the piano, man, and then you can figure out crazy solos of your own.