This all came of a conversation I had with [John] Steinbeck once when we were standing in a men's room somewhere. Steinbeck asked me why I didn't play the banjo any more and I told him that went out with the high-button shoes.

As it enters the ear, does it come in like broken glass, or does it come in like honey?

Finally Beiderbecke came out with a silver cornet. He put it to his lips and blew a phrase. The sound came out like a girl saying 'yes'.

Ted Lewis could make the clarinet talk. What it said was put me back in the case!

Paul Desmond sounds like a female alcoholic.

For a bad hangover take the juice of two quarts of whisky.

They flat their fifths, we drink ours.