I feel a lot more secure about the directions I take, than I might have, had I not practiced Buddhism.

So I didn't actually change my name the way some people did.

Globalization means we have to re-examine some of our ideas, and look at ideas from other countries, from other cultures, and open ourselves to them. And that's not comfortable for the average person.

One thing I like about jazz is that it emphasized doing things differently from what other people were doing.

The spirit of jazz is the spirit of openness.

Of course, it's not the technique that makes the music; it's the sensitivity of the musician and his ability to be able to fuse his life with the rhythm of the times. This is the essence of music.

I keep recycling and repackaging music that I've done in the past, as though I can't write anymore. Like, okay, I'm done with that. But I need to kind of prod myself again into come on, Herbie, get off your duff and start writing some new music.