All a musician can do is to get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws.

I've always felt that even though a man was not a Christian, he still has to know the truth some way or another. Or if he was a Christian, he could know the truth. The truth itself doesn't have any name on it to me. And each man has to find this for himself, I think.

My music is the spiritual expression of what I am — my faith, my knowledge, my being...When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hangups...I want to speak to their souls.

The main thing a musician would like to do is to give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things he knows of and senses in the universe.

Jazz is a word they use to sell our music, but to me that word does not exist.

Considering the great heritage in music that we have - the work of the giants of the past, the present, and the promise of those who are to come - I feel that we have every reason to face the future optimistically.

Invest yourself in everything you do. There's fun in being serious.