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

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

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.

Bernstein grew up in my building in New York. He's a very, very fine player. When he was a kid, he came by to find out what was going on in the world of jazz.

That's kind of my goal: to build a new row of meaningful tones.

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

You just keep playing. If someone special comes along and organizes it in a new way, then you'll have another approach and everybody will jump on it to try to learn.