If you sacrifice your art because of some woman, or some man, or for some color, or for some wealth, you can't be trusted.

All my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal.

Music is a funny thing when you really come to think about it.

When I went in there, we used drum machine on "Time After Time" and "Human Nature".We don't use the drum machine to play a pattern. You play the pattern by being consistent.

If you got up on the bandstand at Minton's and couldn't play, you were not only going to be embarrassed by the people ignoring you or booing you, you might get your ass kicked.

At least one day out of the year all musicans should just put their instruments down, and give thanks to Duke Ellington.

My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.