What is music anyway? It's a form of communication, and that's why I play the kind of music that I think - that I hope - can communicate with people.

Just because people play songs with great technique doesn't mean the records are better.

There are a few countries that, for whatever reason, really enjoy listening to my music.

It's important to let each artist do what makes him or her feel comfortable. Success should be a by-product of that.

Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I think the ordinary guy has just as much right to say 'This is a good song' as somebody who is in the music business.

I don't play the traditional Charlie Parker songs. But I do improvise and I do create with my instrument, and that to me is jazz. But there are people who use the word 'jazz' only in a traditional sense, and they would be offended by that, and that's fine.

I've learned that you simply can't control those bad vibes.