We all kind of grew up together with Art Blakey because we all were young and he gave us a chance to write. We had to write something that was good and to sit up with a great guy like Art Blakey and watch him.

I advise all the young kids to not overwork. You can't be out there blowing hard. You have to pace yourself.

We all kind of grew up together with Art Blakey because we all were young and he gave us a chance to write. We had to write something that was good and to sit up with a great guy like Art Blakey and watch him.

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

They always want to sell me as a hard bopper.

Well, my sister played trumpet. Can you imagine having a sister blowing the trumpet around the house, Fred? And my brother, he played piano. Everybody was playing some kind of music, so it was natural for me to get into it.

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