If you are complaining you can't be thinking about or creating what you do want.

Letting people share their gifts and strengths is real love.

Hearing Sonny Rollins live... that was really amazing. There were so many things that really blew me away at that time [of schooling].

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

The Monk competition did open some doors. And I was thankful for that.

If you want to make [your own way in music] it as a player, which is very difficult, as Art Blakey said to me, "We're blessed to have the opportunity to do this." So just keep that in mind.

Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the guy we should all be emulating." The king! So look, I'm so blessed that my first hero took me in.