Audiences - they like colour, you know. I can go out there wearing a red suit, man, and they'll say I'm out of sight ... I think they should be educated; you should always drop something on an audience ... When you get in front of an audience, you should try to give 'em something. After all, they're there looking at you like this. You can't go out and give 'em nothing.

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

I don't like to hear someone put down dixieland. Those people who say there's no music but bop are just stupid; it shows how much they don't know.

Keith, how does it feel to be a genius?

It's like, how did Columbus discover America when the Indians were already here? What kind of s-- is that, but white people's s--?

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

My future starts when I wake up every morning.