It's part of my nature. I get excited when trying out new stuff, whether it be an idea or equipment. It stimulates my juices.

A jazz musician is not a jazz musician when he or she is eating dinner or when he or she is with his parents or spouse or neighbors. He's above all a human being . . . the true artform is being a human being.

Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.

You can change your character and, at the same time, change your fortune.

Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only a musician when I'm playing music - or writing music, or talking about music. I don't do that 24 hours a day. I'm also a father, a son, a husband, a citizen - I mean, when I go to vote, I'm not thinking of myself as 'a musician.'

Wisdom is the key to understanding the age, creating the time.

One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.