I love to see people recognized [me on scene].

Joe Henderson with Ron Carter and Al Foster at the Vanguard was just wow. And the energy of the three of them.

When [Charlie Parker] saw the young guys, especially the ones that were scuffling... "Did you eat today?" And if you hadn't eaten, he'd take you and buy you some lunch.

Life and success are about what you choose to believe.

I just think that I associated music with something that was healing and transformative as a kid.

If you go with that spirit, good things will come for you. If you go into it with an assumption that you're a genius and that you're entitled to something, it's a little tougher.

I was commuting three to four hours a day, I had jobs for much of it. But I was always involved in going to some ensemble someplace. Taking my lessons at the local Jewish community center on Staten Island.