The goal in life is to live young, have fun, and arrive at your final destination as late as possible, with a smile on your face.

Phil [Wood] said to me in the car going back, he said, "Look man, you better know why you're playing this music. Because I've known too many who lived and died for it. And if you're not trying to change the world, I'm not interested."

Anyone who attempts to build great things will face challenges.

I'm very gratified that I had my little 15 minutes,or whatever [at the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition]. It certainly didn't make me rich and famous. But it helped a little bit for a while.

You do [jazz] because you love it and hope many some others may as well. You do this because you need it.

We had a great educator [in the school band], a man named Larry Laurenzano. He was tough, but we knew that he loved us. And that was the beginning of playing music with people and really being inspired and having fun and being in a community.

Leadership is not just about what you do but what you can inspire, encourage and empower others to do.