I understood that if I wanted to work, the saxophone was the main instrument. The clarinet was what we call a double.

I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I really don't want to know that. I just want to know that there's a combination of notes that makes a sound.

I listen to classical music very much. There's a lot of jazz that I don't enjoy listening to.

I'd like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I've heard.

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there will be Jazz.

Labels don't mean anything to me. I'm trying to play as passionately as I'm able to. If they want to call that cool, that's fine. Just spell the name right, is the formula.

Many people do think it's naive to improvise in front of paying customers. I'm not saying one way is better than another.