My people are Americans. My time is today.

Jazz is one of the best things that you can find in your life, it can always be your friend.

I didn't even start playing the piano until I was about 13 or 14. I guess I must have had a little talent or whatever-you-call-it, but I practised regularly, and that's what counts.

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.

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.

My people are Americans. My time is today.

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