I always tell people, it took me 10 minutes and 35 years in the business. I get tired of playing it ["Lullaby of Birdland"], but not of collecting the royalties.

If you establish an identity, you build a monster-and thats right, youve got to live with it. Of course, you can enjoy it, too.

You know, when you've established a certain thing, what can you do? You're stuck with it.

I always tell people, it took me 10 minutes and 35 years in the business. I get tired of playing it ["Lullaby of Birdland"], but not of collecting the royalties.

The way it works: The orchestra plays a few selections of its own and I terminate the first part of the programme on piano, usually with a movement from a Mozart concerto.

I don't like freedom jazz - I think it's void of roots and void of foundation.

Learn the rules and then break them in such a way as to exercise good taste.