The sign of a mature musician is knowing what not to play.

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.

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

The sign of a mature musician is knowing what not to play.

Men have died for this music. You can't get more serious than that.

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.

Everyone wants to put people on, I think. And get away with it! That's the thing: put people on and get away with it! That's a science in itself.