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

Originality is the only thing that counts. But the originator uses material and ideas that occur round him and pass through him. And out of his experience comes the original creation.

My people are Americans. My time is today.

I frequently hear music in the heart of noise.

Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.

It took me three weeks to write the 'Rhapsody in Blue.' I had always wanted to write something blue and Paul Whiteman inspired.

An entire composition written in jazz could not live.