Monk was a gentle person, gentle and beautiful, but he was strong as an ox. And if I had ever said something about punching Monk out in front of his face - and I never did - then somebody should have just come and got me and taken me to the madhouse, because Monk could have just picked my little ass up and thrown me through a wall.

I've used [drum machine] because I have to have the perfect tempo.

You know why I quit playing ballads? Cause I love playing ballads.

Joao Gilberto on guitar could read a newspaper and sound good.

Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery

John Lee Hooker is the funkiest man alive

You should never be comfortable, man. Being comfortable fouled up a lot of musicians.