I don't pay no attention to what critics say about me, the good or the bad. The toughest critic I got is myself...and I'm too vain to play anything I think is bad.

You can't play anything on a horn that Louis Armstrong hasn't played

In respect for drummers, see, I love drummers.

The melody is French. But that's the end of the record. I named it "Jean Pierre Then There Were None," you know, because of the big explosion. You'll like it. It's a nice album.

So What or Kind of Blue were done in that era, the right hour, the right day. It's over; it's on the record.

I mean, it makes me sick when I see a white man sitting there smiling at me being entertaining, man. When I know what he's gonna do after he gets through. You know, when you see that thing on their face - like: "Entertain me." You know what I mean? Even the black guy that's trying to be white - even he can have that crap on his face.

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