I quit drinking, so I can think clear. When you have chop trouble, drinking doesn't help the healing process.

I used to try to play like [Miles Davis], and Miles caught me copying him one night at Birdland. He said, 'Hey man, why don't you play some of your own stuff.' So, I finally did, because I had copied all his solos.

I quit drinking, so I can think clear. When you have chop trouble, drinking doesn't help the healing process.

Dizzy used to tell me I'm playing too hard. He'd say to not give everything. Miles told me that too.

Man, you'd be surprised how much I'm learning - not only about myself, but about the musicians who came before me. You don't realize at first when you listen to Armstrong's records how great this man was and how hard that Hot Five music was to play. After the experience of reading and playing those parts, I have an even greater respect for Louis Armstrong than before

Jazz isn't like pop, where you sell millions of records with a hit. Your spirit and soul aren't important in pop music. But jazz is like classical music. If people like you, they'll remember you and you'll last forever.

When I got started in New York, if you were different from Miles & Dizzy it was very difficult.