There is no art without intention.

Put it this way: Jazz is a good barometer of freedom... In its beginnings, the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, jazz was evolved, and the music is so free that many people say it is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country.

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

There is nothing to keeping a band together. You simply have to have a gimmick, and the gimmick I use is to pay them money!

I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.

Now I can say loudly and openly what I have been saying to myself on my knees.

By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.