You see, pops, that's the kind of talk that's ruining the music. Everyone's trying to do something new, no one trying to learn the fundamentals first. All them young cats playing their wierd chords. And what happens? No one's working.

I got a simple rule about everybody. If you don't treat me right - shame on you.

My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that horn.

My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people.

Jazz is what I play for a living.

Never play a thing the same way twice.

If you don't understand it, don't mess with it.