When you fuel up with purpose you find the excitement in the mundane, the passion in the everyday, the extraordinary in the ordinary.

There is a very small chance that you might be really brilliant and really talented.

Phil [Wood] was known for having a little bit of a gruff manner, but he was all heart.

You can’t be a great leader if all you are serving is yourself.

My life is a gift not an obligation and I Get To make the most of it.

Barry Harris had a club called Jazz Cultural Theater and there were sessions there on a regular basis. I remember being there and sitting in with [Charles] McPherson and Barry being there, and just smiling at me. He didn't talk to me much at the time, he just came up and gave me a smile, which meant a lot. I've since gotten to know him and been around him a little bit.

Walk down Forest Ave to Joey's Pizza like we used to do after performances, which doesn't exist anymore. We had a sense of community [in the school band].