Every time I look down on this timeless town, whether blue or gray be her skies, whether loud be her cheers, or whether soft be her tears, more and more do I realize that...I love Paris.

Some kids in Italy call me 'Mama Jazz; I thought that was so cute. As long as they don't call me 'Grandma Jazz.'

You take romance - I'll take Jell-O.

[On bebop years] All I did was sing 'How High the Moon.' It seemed like the only song I ever sang.

Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.

Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.

Nobody else even approaches the trumpet like [Sweets Edison] does: Never too much and always plenty. He's the greatest trumpet player to play along with singers. He exactly knows how to play with you, how to answer you about what you just sang ... On top of that, he has some great sense of humor, both as a musician and as a man. Every time I see him, I'm laughing so much. Sweets is impeccable and incomparable.