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.

If you don't know what to play, play nothing.

There are no wrong notes.

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.

You ever hear Buddy Miles play the drums? You know, he doesn't vary the tempo at all.

I can tell. I'm gifted with that, you know. When I hear that the tempo is slightly off, it's hard for me.

They [police] do me like that all the time! "What you work for?".