All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least, it isn't that way in my work.

An entire composition written in jazz could not live.

Upper berth, lower berth, that's the difference between talent and genius.

It is always possible to create something original.

My people are Americans. My time is today.

What the hell do you want to work for somebody else for? Work for yourself!

Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and feeling of the American people more than any other style of folk music.