A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Yet, every time God's children have thrown away fear in pursuit of honesty-trying to communicate themselves, understood or not, miracles have happened.

The word [jazz] never lost its association with those New Orleans bordellos. In the 1920s I used to try to convince Fletcher Henderson that we ought to call what we were doing 'Negro music'. But it's too late for that now.

Be a number one yourself. And not a number two somebody else.

Of the One O'Clock Lab Band after hearing their performance, and sitting in with them at the White House: "I wish it were mine".

Create, and be true to yourself, and depend only on your own good taste.

Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.