I'm motivated. The spirit hits me and I just keep going and don't stop. The more I play, the more I can invent, the more ideas come to me.

I'm motivated. The spirit hits me and I just keep going and don't stop. The more I play, the more I can invent, the more ideas come to me.

All art is communication of the artists' ideas, sounds, thoughts; without that no one will support the artist.

I worked hard learning harmony and theory when I was growing up in Chicago in the 1920s.

It's always Jazz. You can put a new dress on her, a new hat, but no matter what kind of clothes she's the same old broad.

Playing is my way of thinking, talking, communicating.

Man, as long as people want to hear Jazz, I'll give it to them.