I'll play it first and figure out what it's called later.

It's not the note you play that's the wrong note - it's the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.

I used to enjoy all the white bands when I was a kid listening to the radio. But the record companies, they take music and label it - like, they say "rock". Because the white singers can't sound like James Brown, they call him "soul". They've been doing that for years. That's the prejudice crap.

What's swinging in words? If a guy makes you pat your foot and if you feel it down your back, you don't have to ask anybody if that's good music or not. You can always feel it.

I can hear what I want [people] to play. If you don't hear what you want someone to play, then you can't tell 'em.

The music speaks for itself!

I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am one thing, a musician.