In the year of 1902, when I was about seventeen years old, I happened to invade one of the sections [in New Orleans] where the birth of Jazz originated from.

The sporting houses needed professors, and we had so many different styles that... it wouldn't make any difference that you just came from . . . whatever your tunes were over there, we played them in New Orleans.

Rejoice at the death and cry at the birth: New Orleans sticks close to the Scriptures.

Jazz music is to be played sweet, soft, plenty rhythm.

In 1908 Handy didn't know anything about the blues and he doesn't know anything about jazz and stomps to this day. I myself figured out the peculiar form of mathematics and harmonies that was strange to all the world but me.

My contributions were many: First clown director, with witty sayings and flashily dressed, now called master of ceremonies.

Jazz music is a style, not compositions; any kind of music may be played in Jazz if one has the knowledge.