Life is a lot like jazz. It's best when you improvise.

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

When I'm in my normal mood, music drips from my fingers.

The composer does not sit around and wait for an inspiration to walk up and introduce itself...Making music is actually little else than a matter of invention aided and abetted by emotion. In composing we combine what we know of music with what we feel.

My people are Americans. My time is today.

Summertime And the living is easy Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich And your mama's good lookin' So hush little baby now don't you cry One of these mornin's You're gonna rise up singin' Then you'll spread your wings And take to the sky But til that mornin' Ain't nothin' can harm you With your daddy And your mammy standin' by.

All great composers of the past spent most of their time studying. Feeling alone won't do the job. A man also needs technique.